
COPYRl'.irr DFPOSIT 



! 

i 



PLACES OF INTEREST 

In and around' Asheville and their distance. 



NAME OF PLACE. 



MILES, 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



Shelf 



Battery Park in the City 

The Lindsey & Brown Scenic Studio, " " 

Beaumont, (altitude nearly 2,800 ft.)... *' 

Top of Town Mountain, 

Fernihurst, (Connally's View) , 

Hazzard Heights, , 

Eiverside Park 

Tahkeeostee Farm 

Eichraond Hill, (Pearson's View)^^....^. 

Goi 
Elk 
Ten 
Sur 
Str, 
Fre 

Sw 

Lee 
Asl 
Blr 
Arc 
Ree 
'^le ... 

Cra'jgy Motm'tain, to foot 

to top, [altitude 6,000 ft.]. 

Mount Mitchell, to foot 

" " to top, [altitude 6,717 ft.] 

Hot Springs 

Haywood White Sulphur Springs 

Hickory Nut Falls 

Bald Mountain, of volcanic notoriety , 

Cave of the Winds, Pools, Chimney Rock, etc... 

Mount Pisgah, [altitude 5,757] 

Caesar's Head, 

Skyland Springs 

Oakland Institute 

Vanderbilt Park. 

Smith's Mountain 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



5 
1 

4 

1 
50 

2 
12 

2 

5 
12 
10 
10 
10 
14 
18 
18 
28 
37 
31 
22 
25 
25 
20 
45 

8 

1% 

4 

2 



At. 2. 500. 




mni,88.M. 
.2.150. 



MMt.Pisgah.20M. 



JurnpikeJS.M. 



FiwiklinJlM. 
AI.2J41 



Dii'5 



bo!- 



^^!. 



A/.2.80a y 



^ Waynes V 30 M. 

A!. 2/5} 



R 



^ 



Ye'lou'<^ Hill 

Qtiu/laiOai:,50.M. 
Ai2 979. 

ThelndianM 
Cherokee Mation. 



•v1AP OF THE RESORTS OF WESTERN NORTH CAR- 
OLINA, THEIR ALTITUDE AND DIS- 
TANCE FROM ASHEVILLE. 



Bend.l5M. 



IKAVKP KSr>HClALl,V !M > K 



lindseVs Gwide book 



X. L'..-~I'lcasc ousfivi 
.( )( »KlXtV S( n-Tii 



1 ■- ( I r; I w 



o 



l^Hof Spiings,38 M. 
Ail 396. 



SARS HEAD. MigManjs 80 M ' 
)MA!3 225 AI3750 

^reimdeRM. 
Al 2.150. 




MMl.Pisgali.20M. 
■ ^Al.5.757. 



Sylvii.BOM 
Al. 2.800 .' 



4 Wayik'sV^OM. 

A! 2 751 



FrniikiiiulU 
Ai.2141 






lelkm'^ Hill 

Quullaioun.50 M 

AI2979. 

TiwindMnor 
Chiioktr Nation. 



i Mf IHt Kbt>OKTS OH WESTEHN NUin H CAH- 
OLINA, THEIR ALTITUDE AND DIS- 
TANCE FROM ASHEVILLE 

i.\i;ka\ii> i>ri;i.iAi.i.v iim 

JNDSEYS GLMDE BCX)K. 

N. |{. — riiasc ulistrvi- lh;il litis iniip i< "Ir.'iNvii 

I.I KiKIXi-. -■ -'■•''" 



,Hol Sprmgs.38 M. 
AllSOd. 



,^ LINDSEY'S 

GUIDE BOOK 



-TO- 



WESTERN NORTH CfiROLINS 



ILLUSTRATED. 



r. 

ley. 



T. H. LINDSEY, Author and Publisher, 
ASHEVILLE, N. C. 



En':c!\: J According' to A'ct of Congress, in the Year 1890, by 

T. H. Lindsey, in the Office of the Librarian of 

Congress, at Washingtoi 

'RIGHT 



P 



ASHEVILLE: 
The Raxdolph-Kerr PRINTI^G Co. 

1890. 




IrptFOGlcaGtiGrp. 



In the publication of this book itjhas been the Author'? 
aim to combine every item of information that would be 
of interest to the Tourist and Health-seeker, or visitor, 
to this beautiful "Land of the Sky." Our information 
has been gathered largely through personal experience 
and observation. Having traveled over almost the entire 
section described in the following pages, we have been 
enabled to gather reliable information concerning the 
different points of interest, otherwise unobtainable, while 
to some extent, we have been compelled to draw from 
other sources for the information necessar}' for a book of 
this kind, believing that the information herein contained 
is the most complete and reliable of any previously pub- 
lished. 

The maps and engravings in this book were made es- 
pecially for this purpose. The photographs from which 
the engravings were made, were taken by the author in 
his rambles through mountains and valleys in search of 
the information for this work. 

Hoping that my efforts in penning the following pages 
may be instrumental in bringing scores of suffering hu- 
manity to this land of health and happiness, where the 
balmy atmosphere of these cloud-begirdled peaks may 
bring back to their faded cheeks the bloom of health. 
Respectfully, T. H. LINDSEY. 



■^ ©oBte^ti), ^- 



.^neville 

vlexander's • •• 

Arden Park 

Altitudes ••••• 

Beaucatchet- Mountain 



PAGE. 

13 

48 

54 

70 

2S 



44 J 
Chimney Rock • ^ 

Cherokee Indians • • ^ 

Comparative Mortality Among Consumptives 7jy 

,^ , , 56 •' 

Ceesar s tieaa.... • • ^^ 

Distances and Railroad Fare • '" 

Elk Mountain ' ^^ 

Fruit Grovv'ing "_^ 

"Fernihurst"— Connally's .••■•• • •■• ^^ 



3^ 

^ i V C 1 • • ■ ■ 

Gouche's Peak -, 



Franklin - ' 



, 61 

Gombroon 

Hot Springs • • • 

Hickory Nut Gap...... • • ^^ 

Highlands •••• ''- / 

• 55 

Henderson villc • 

Mount Mitchell • ^^ 

Mount Pisgah • ^'^ 

41 
Pamt Rock - ■••••• *^ 

Places of interest first inside cover 

Richmond Hill • ^^ 

Racing Waters— Poem ^' 

Round Knob "^^ 

4S 
Re an Mountain •• 



CONTENTvS— Continued. 

Rainfall .: 74 

Swannaiioa Drive 32 

Svvannanoa River — Poem , 33 

Sulphur Springs 35 

Skyland Springs 58 

Sunset Drive 29 

Smith's Mountain 29 

The "Land of the Sky" 3 

Town Mountain 29 

Tahkeeostee 32 

Temperature 74 

Waynesville 51 

Weaverville.. 36 



•4 Ill^stFatiorpi). > 



BETWEEN. 

Battery Park Hotel 28—29 

French Broad Vallej-... 4 — 5 

French Broad from Richmond Hill 30—31 

Gombroon 60-61 

Grand Central Hotel 16—17 

Hickory Nut Gap... 42—43 

Mount Mitchell 58—59 

Mountain Park Hotel..., 40—41 

Oakland Institute 48—49 

Post Office and Custom House 24—25 

South Main Street 12—13 

Scene on the Swannanoa... 34—35 

Swannanoa Hotel 22 — 23 

View on Court Square 8-r9 

Winyah House 10— (l 

/ 



SI?e ©ar^d of tfee (§kg, 



That must be a favored region which, alone of all the 
beautiful domains on the earth that lie spread under the 
broad canopy of the heavens, has been distinguished by 
so significant a title as that of "Land of the Sky." It 
must have been marked by some wonderful atmospheric 
peculiarities which authorized kinship with the cerulean 
curtain above; it must have had charms of climate which 
breathed out the unsullied purity of the realms that lay 
encurtained in the skies; and it must have included 
scenery so sublime and so beautiful as would be appro- 
priate to name in connection with the skies; for, to the 
skies, are uplifted all the sentiments of love and adora- 
tion and venoration ; and to the skies cannot ascend 
meaner or more ignoble emotions. 

To us, the "Land of the Sky" is a limited and well- 
defined expression. The fervor of enthusiasm in the 
worship of nature has given to it substantial and well 
recognized metes and bounds; and poetry, not perhaps 
in verse, but in language with all the elements and in- 
spiration of poetry, has given it "a local habitation and 
a name;" a name as fixed and characteristic as that of 
fabled El Dorado ; but unlike that name that danced like 
baleful ignus fatuus before the heated imagination filled 
with the story of gold and boundless treasure, leading to 
disappointment and to death, this name is irradiated 
with truthful glow, lighting the path to health and 
peaceful competence, the reward, not of avarice, but of 
honest labor or judicious enterprise. 



Is the Land of the Skj^ mis-uamed? And are the sug- 
gestions of the name misleading and deceptive? Let us 
see what is the "Land of the Sky." Along the northern 
boundary of North Carolina, and, as that boundary 
touches the western extreme of Virginia, two mountain 
chains present themselves with purpose to cross into our 
territory. One of them, the eastern, has begun its jour- 
ney in far away Labrador; and, skirting along the East- 
ern United States, by various names known in Vermont, 
New York and Pennsylvania, takes in Virginia th*i name 
it holds until it goes out into Georgia — the familiar T^lne 
Ridge. 

The other beginning in New York State, rises in Yv'est- 
ern Virginia into dignity and grandeur, and comes to our 
borders under the name of Alleghany or Appalachian ; 
and looking over into our territory, makes no further in- 
w^ard progress, but sweeps along the margin, a wall be- 
tween us and Tennessee, until, in the sox-jth western cor- 
ner of the State, it joins and blends with the Blue Ridge, 
the two ranges in their divided courses having encircled 
a high plateaii, the true mountain region of Western 
North Carolina, known as the "Land of the Sk^'." 
Crossed and interlaced by numerous cross chains ofequal 
altitude, this broken elevated plateau is indented with 
innumerable streams, sparkling rivulets, dashing in 
foaming cascades or tumbling over opposing cliffs in 
noisy cataracts. 

Over all this mountain and sylvan scene there is spread 
the bluest and most transparent of skies, the fountain of 
the purest and most exhilarating of atmospheres, a de- 
light to inhale, a ver3^ luxur\- to breathe. Here are no 
sultry nights, for when the sun lays down his scepter, 
then comes with the shades of evening down from the 
mountain top or out from the deep recesses of its rocky 
gorges the most healthful and delicious of atmospheres. 

Between these mountains and each mountain spur are 



vallej'S as beautiful as ever charmed the e^^e, and over all 
sweeps the delighted vision, and treasures up the im- 
pressions made by mountain and valley; by the dark 
timbers of the primeval forest ; by the sunlight as it glo- 
riously lights up the whole; by the shadow of the cloud 
as it flits by hill and vale; by dark and threatening 
clouds enveloping all in gloom ; bj^ gentle mists that 
shroud in veil; b3' the deep rich green that robes th< 
nearer view ; b_v the soft azure that melts awaj- in dis 
tance. And that delighted e3^e pays willing tribute to 
the scene, because it trul}^ dwells upon "The Land of the 
Sky." 

Here you see fertile valleys, where cereals and fruits 
cheer the heart of man, while the circling mountains shut 
out the rest of the world from your vision. 

Here 

"Nature has known no change, felt no decay, 

P'or untold ages in this ancient land; 
Her dark woods wave, her rivers hold their Vv-ay. 

Majestic as Avhen first from nature's hand ; 
Down the dread depths, as in the dawn of time, 

The raging cataracts their waters 'arge." 

The whole of this s\'Stemof mountain and valle^^ ; more 
largely of the mountain, for in the great tumultiious up- 
heaval the mountains seemed to crt>v^d upon each other 
in emulous rage, and leave but little suggestion of peace 
and order. But time, which tempers all things, not only 
smoothed their rugged brows and clothed the rocks with 
massive verdure, but spread out the valleys as pretty 
peace offerings to angered nature. 

Among these manj' mountain chains arise the highest 
peaks along the Atlantic slope. The Black Mountain 
range is a distinct and independent chain, and is the old- 
est land upon the American continent according to geo- 
logical dictum, in a distance of thirty miles containing 
nineteen peaks passing the elevation of 6,000 feet, the 



highest, Mt. Mitchell, being 6,717 teet. In the balsam 
range there are fifteen peaks exceeding 6,000 feet, the 
highest being Richland Balsam, 6,425 feet high. In the 
Smoky Mountains along the Tennessee borders there are 
twent}^ peaks over 6,000 feet high, the tallest of which is 
Clingman's Dome, 6,666 feet high. 

The Cowee range has a mean elevation of about 4,300 
feet, the highest, Yellow Mountains, being 5,133 feet 
high. The Nantahala range has a mean elevation of 
about 5,000 feet, with peaks, the Standing Indian and 
Wayah Bald among them, rising to the height of near 
5,500. The Valley River Mountains have a mean height 
of 4,000 feet, with peaks, the Tusquittee among them, 
5,314 feet high. 

The Blue Ridge has a mean elevation of about 4,000 
feet, the Grandfather rising to a height of 5,897 feet, and 
the Pinnacle to about the same. There are fifty-seven 
mountains in North Carolina above 6,000 feet high. 
Man^'- rising much higher, the average of the whole chain 
exceeding 5,000 feet. 

This is only a general and partial view of heights and 
elevations which are common to all Western North Car- 
olina. Many more illustrations, if needed, might be 
given. 

Now we speak of characteristics. As a general feature, 
all these mountains have gently rounded summits, and 
in perspective view present a graceful, undulating out- 
line. Rarely are these summits crowned with naked rock; 
and precipice and yawning chasm present themselves 
only where the Blue Ridge line looks down into South 
Carolina, where they seem to recoil back from their 
Southern trend, and lift their haughty and majestic front 
in stateh' crag or beetling precipice. All else is clothed in 
herbage. Some heights are prairie summits, thick set 
with turf. Most all are covered with majestic trees, 



and the highest of them are all crowned with the Cana- 
da balsam. -^ 

The sides of the mountains are hid beneaththick vest- 
ure of foliage; and thej are seamed with many a rift and 
gorge, the secret birthplace and nursery of the glittering 
stream that in che shade of laurel and ivy comes spark- 
ling into life and goes dancing down the mountain side 
to join the manA'- kindred rivulets that combine to send 
their tribute to the Gulf and Ocean. 

But ej^e alone must not appeal for pleasure; that by 
itself could not confirm the blessed title. There must be 
something in the air we breathe, some life-giving princi- 
ple more powerful than external charm. And this is had 
in climate. Here n this Land of the Sky, is the happj'- 
juste melieu between the colds of northern regions, and 
the enervations of the lower latitude. The colds of 
winter come sometimes upon this region as sharp, when 
measured b\^ the readings of the mercury, as farther 
North, yet so tempered by the dryness of the air as to be 
borne without suffering; and the heat of a summer sun 
beats down as fiercely as at a lower level, yet does not 
heat the air to sultriness, and the evening shades bring 
back coolness, and the night breathes invigoration, and 
the morning air is like an mhalation from paradise. 

The winters bring no loads of snowj enough to give en- 
chanting wonders to a mountain landscape; not enough 
to be the burden and the bane of winter. And the sum- 
mer heat brings with it no tornado or cj'clone, no all- 
destroying tempest, no parching droughts and few des- 
tructive rains. 

We have now showm how well in scenery, in tree and 
in flower, and in the charms of climate this land is entitl- 
ed to its happy cognomen, "The Land of the Sky," we 
shall now turn our attention in a more scientific direc- 
tion. How much might science find to attract and re- 
pay it here? What secrets of past ages might not be 



8 



revealed to the geologist by'these great mountains, the 
oldest in the world, which stood firm during the period 
of the upheavals and subsidences of the crust of the 
earth? Where rocks of the Archean or earliest age lie 
exposed, and where the history of the physical world can 
be traced in its successive formations. What fascina- 
tions might not the true lover of nature find in unveil- 
ing the mysteries hidden in the depths of these track- 
less forests, whose regions of vast extent are tnown 
only to the hunter and the game he seeks? How few 
of the hundreds of mountains that cover the country 
with infinitely varied beauty have ever been ascended, 
examined or scientifically measured? And to the miner- 
alogist this land should prove a very garden of Aladdin. 

From the beautiful flesh and rose colored marbles of 
the Nantahala, to the great iron deposits of Cranberrj', 
what fields for mineral exploration exist to tempt sci- 
entist and capitalist? About 160 varieties of minerals 
are found here, many of them very rare, and some not 
discovered hitherto or elsewhere in America, i^arge 
deposits of gold, silver, iron, copper, zinc, mica and cor- 
undum abound. In Clay county is found the greatest 
mass of chrysolite rock in the United States, the area 
covered being 1,400 acres. Corundum has been found 
here in masses weighing as much as 600 pounds. 

The Cranberry iron mine, in Mitchell county, is one of 
the most remarkable iron deposits in America, and equal 
to the best Swede. The ore is a pure massive granular 
magnetite. The steep slope of the m.ountain and ridges 
which the bed occupies are covered with blocks of ore. 
Some weighing hundreds of pounds, and at places, bare 
vertical walls of massive ore 10 to 15 feet thick are 
exposed and, over several acres, the solid ore is found 
everywhere near the surface. The length of the out-crop 
is 1,500 feet, and the width 200 to 800 feet." (State 
Geological Report.) At Ore Knob, the deposit of ore in 



quantity and quality, is said to rival that of Lake Su- 
perior. 

The mica mines of this reg^ion are very valuable, and 
it is a curious fact that those which are most profitable 
at the present time bear evidence of having been worked 
at some former remote period — probably by the pre-his- 
toric race of mound builders. 

The mica mining has brought to light a great many 
new mineral species. Sa3'S Professor Kerr: "The mica 
nnnes carry a larger number of rare and complex combi- 
nations than those of any other description. The corun- 
dum mines in the chrN'Solite ledges have also added to 
the catalogue a number of rare minerals, and some new 
to science." 

^Concerning diamonds, we are told that "this rare gem 
has been repeatedl}^ found in North Carolina," although 
no attempt has ever been made to prosecute a search for 
it. Various diamonds are described, some perfect crys- 
tals of the first water, and an instance is recorded of a 
beautiful black diamond found by some persons while 
washing for gold. .Many other gems have been discov- 
ered — those of the first order sparingly, but the inferior 
stones, in large quantities. Emeralds, rubies, sapphires 
and amethysts have been found in various places: but 
ber3d, garnet, tourmaline, chalcedony and chrysolite are 
widely distributed, and the first two are described as 
existing in beautiful crj^stals, some of which weigh as 
much as ten pounds. 

In one of the counties east of the Blue Ridge the first 
regular mining for gems ever undertaken was almost 
immediately rewarded by the finding of the new and 
beautiful stone "hiddenite" or^lithia-emerald. Of this 
stone Mr. G. F. Kunz, in a paper read before the New 
York Academy of Science, says: "Lithia-emerald or hidde- 
nite is to the species spaldumene precisely what emerald 
is to the species beryl. It is to-day not only the most 



lO 



beautiful of Attierican gems, but like the emerald, has 
taken its place araono- the gems of the highest rank and 
value. As regards value, it has been sold for the price of 
diamonds of equal size. This is the £rst purely Ameri- 
can g-em, and its remarkahlc beautj^ merits the highest 
praise." 

When one considers that, looking back through ages to 
the dimness of historic twilight, v^^e find the great gems 
of the first order as we know them now% the most 
enthusiastic mineralogist could scarcely have hoped that 
the old earth would, at this period of her existance, 
jdeld out of her bosom a new sister for these royal stones. 
But since this has come to pass, what other marvels may 
not be hidden in these mild and beautiful fastnesses, 
where nature herself seems to meet us face to face and 
welcome us to a land where she has lavished everything 
that is her's to give? For no treasure, were it of "gold 
and a multitude of jewels," could surpass that which the 
country already possesses in its incomparable natural 
beauty. But let the lover of nature and science go forth 
into the wilds which surround him and invite him with 
such irresistable fascination, and if he be a true lover, he 
will find nothing to deter, but much to interest at every 
step. 

He will soon perceive that the vast chains of the Blue 
Ridge and the great Smokj-, which encircle this "Land 
of the Sky"— the Blue Ridge bending like a bow, the 
Smoky forming the string to the bow, are but its out- 
ward ramparts. Between them lies an elevated region 
250 miles in length, with an average width of 50 miles, 
across which runs several great chains of heights. From 
the latter, spurs lead off in all directions, while between 
them are valleys of exquisite beauty and rare fertility 
through each valley sweeps a noble river, fed by a hun- 
dred minor tributaries, on its way to the great Smoky. 
For the Blue Ridge, despite its lesser elevation, is the 



watershed of the region, and is not severed by a single 
stream, while the more massive barrier of the western 
chain is torn asunder by the great rivers that cut their 
way through it in gorges of wild sublimity. 

The two great encircling ranges, after embracing this 
region in a w^ide sweep, draw near to each other in the 
northeastern extremity of Mitchell county, where, with- 
in a short distance, stand two famous heights, which 
Professor Guyot has called "the two great pillars on 
both sides of the North Gate to the high mountain re- 
gion of North Carolina" — the Grandfather, the highest 
peak of the Blue Ridge, and the majestic Roan of the 
Smoky — while between them stands the transverse up- 
heaval known as Yellow mountain. In the beautiful val- 
leys that lie between this height and the massive chain 
of the Black mountains flow those crystal streams which 
are the head-waters of the Nolechucky. 

Beyond the Black, comes the widest and longest of 
mountain valle3'^s, that of the beautiful and famous 
French Broad, which after uniting its three forks in the 
upper end of Transylvania county, flows through an 
arcadian valley, abounding in fertile loveliness and fram- 
ed by azure heights, until at Asheville it enters among 
the hills, through which it cuts its way in a constantly 
deepening gorge for thirty-eight miles, meriting well its 
Cherokee name, Tahkeeostee, "Racing River." 

Going westward from Asheville, and crossing the New- 
found mountains, the traveler is in the high valley of 
Haywood county, through which winds the lovely Fig- 
ean river. The country is of a fertility equal to its beau- 
ty. It IS impossible to imagine anything miore charming 
— blending of pastoral gentleness with the boldest and 
grandest features of mountain scenery — for here rises, 
near at hand, the great chain of the Balsam. 

Following the beautiful valley of the Pigeon and its 



13 



tributaries into the noble heights where they rise, one is 
surrounded bj^ immense forest-clad mountnins, of which 
the peaks lift their heads more than 6,000 feet in upper 
air, when mighty escarpments of rock contrast with in- 
finitely rich and varied verdure of the virgin wilderness, 
and wheie, in trackless gorges and deep chasms, the 
roar of unseen cataracts alone breaks the silence of soli- 
tude. 

Beyond this massive range, whi.;h for forty-five miles 
presents a barrier that no waters pierce, is another infi- 
nitelv diversified mountain and valley and stream. This 
is the valley of the Tennessee and its great tributaries, 
the Tuckaseege, the Nantihala and the f^cona Lufta. The 
last named, one of the loveliest of mountain rivers, flows 
through the rich land of the Indian reservation — for here 
50,000 acres of the finest lands in Western Carolina, are 
secured by the State to the Eastern band of Cherokees— 
and empties into the Tuckaseege just before the latter 
river joins the Tennesssee, 

Among these heights the cr\^stal river, swift as an ar- 
row for the most part, has many vicissitudes and wears 
many different aspects; now leaping down a wild gorge 
in stupendous falls, and again flowing through a beau- 
tiful and romantic vallej^ overlooked by wooded hills. 

But in theNantahalaistobefoundtheraost picturesque 
river of all this region, Its name signifies, in the Chero- 
kee tongue, "Noonday sun," from the fact that the moun- 
tains stand so closelv about it that the sunlight only 
strikes it during the middle of the day. This river is in 
Macon county, and during most of its course it flows at 
the feet of precipitous crags, through vast forests and 
down inaccessible slopes. 

A traveler thus describes a view of its valley after cross- 
ing Red Marble Gap: "The first view of it will cause you 
to rise in your stirrups. It is a narrow valley with one 
farm house lying in the foreground. Around it rises 



massive mountain walls perfectly perpendicular, veiled 
in v(^oods and in height fully 2,000 feet. Directly before 
you is a parting of the tremendous ranges, and through 
this steep-sided gap, purple lines of mountains rising one 
behind the other, bar the vision. The picture of these 
far away ranges in the subdued coloring of distance, is 
of inspiring grandeur. The river is unseen at this point, 
but if the Checwah mountain road is ascended, its white 
line of waters will be visible as it issues from the wild 
gorge at the head of the valley, and bickering along 
between wood-fringed banks, at length disappears in the 
wilderness leading toward the great ga;j." 

But it would extend the present article far beyond the 
limit possible to allow in this little book, to describe in 
detail the varied, picturesque scenes which this beautiful 
and as yet only partially explored country contains. A 
volume would be required to do them justice" 

We shall now devote our space to a description of the 
different places of interest— to the tourist and the health 
seeker — their attractions and how to reach them,&c., &c. 

ASHEYILLE. 

The history of this beautiful little mountain cit^s dates 
back to about the year 1812, when it was known only 
as a trading post, where the red men and the palefaces 
would assemble to trade and barter and drink whiskey, 
and otherwise amuse themselves. 

About the year 1833 the town was incorporated under 
the name of Morristown. This name was afterwards 
dropped and the name of Asheville given to the place in 
honor of Samuel Ashe, of New Hanover. 

For more than a quarter of a century, Asheville was 
nothing more than a sleepy little mountain village with 
but few attractions, and known as a summer resort only 
to a few wealthy Southerners, who made their waj^ each 
year across the mountains in their private conve3\Hnces 



H 



or in the old mountain sta^e coaches, to spend the sum- 
mer at some of the fine watering places in the neighbor- 
hood. 

It was not until about 1882 when the first railroad 
was completed to the town, that Asheville began to be 
known to any very great extent ; numbering at that time 
onh^ about 2,500 souls. About this time a new era 
dawned, and new life and energy was enthused into the 
sleepy old town. Capitalists and health seekers began 
pouring in and have continued to come, until millions of 
capital have been invested, and thousands of health seekers 
have flocked here from all parts of the country and have 
invested and located permanentl3^ 

The location of Asheville seems to have been designed 
b\^ nature for man's happiness; when weary and tired, 
the man of business may rest and recuperate his worn 
out energies in order to prepare for the duties of life de- 
volving upon him. Situated at an elevation of 2,250 feet 
above tide-water, with the beautiful Swannanoa and 
French Broad rivers flowing at its feet, while on every 
hand towering mountains pierce the clouds, and genial, 
soft, yet bracing 'atmosphere, in the midst of enchanting 
scenerj^ This fair "'Land of the Sky," has been theinspi- 
ration of the romancer's pen and the artist's pencil. 
No other spot combines so fine a climate, an air so pure 
and invigorating, and scenery so charming and pictur- 
esqe. 

Rev. Dr. T. Dewitt Talmage, who recently spent several 
months here, in conversation with a reporter, gave ex- 
pression to the following about Asheville: "The pen of 
a Longfellow or the brush of a Messonier, cannot do it 
justice. Here I sit and watch nature in all her grand 
formations. Wonderfnlly grand and majestic, these 
silent sentinels of God's own handiwork; beautiful and 
charming, these fertile valleys, ripe with the golden grain 
of harvest-time, refreshing and soothing these mountain 



15 

streams of fine crystaline water, wending their way to 
the ports of commerce, navigation anrl trade; restfuland 
passive, this skyland, with panoramas of floating beauty 
in ever changing clouds; recuperative and health-restor- 
ing, this oxj'genated and balsamic air fresh and uncon- 
taminated, giving new zest to life and buildmg np worn 
out tissues of the human frame. 

"It is indeed a garden of recuperation. All the condi- 
tions seem favorable. If there is anyone who is so con- 
stituted that enjoyment can be had in life and can't find 
it here, rest assured that such a person will not be able 
to find enjoyment in heaven when he gets there. What 
more can one ask for than healthful climate, pure air, 
good water, unsurpassed scenery and congenial people ? 
Western North Carolina to-day ofiers more solid comfort, 
hope and happiness to the invalid and health-seeker, than 
the whole Materia Medica from the time of Escalapins 
down to the present time.*' 

To sum up the whole matter in a nut shell, here 'is a 
section, grand, healthy and mountainous, that must of 
necessity command alarge influx of emigration; a section 
in which nature has done everj^tbing and offers every 
essential to human happiness. The woods, the vales, the 
running streams, stand in their primitive and lovely, but 
rough grandeur 

In these secluded vales, beneath the highest mountains 
in the United States east of the Rockies, are homes ready 
for the hardy emigrant who desires to find a spot similar 
to the haunts of his infancv, where he may fruitfully ex- 
pend the labor of his manhood and pass his after years 
in peace and prosperit3^ 

Asheville has now a joopulation of over 10,000, and 
with her present railroad facilities — there being four lines 
leading into the city — the trip to Asheville can be made 
in Pullman Palace Cars with as much ease and comfort 



as in any part of the country, it being only seventeen 
hours ride from Washington or Cincinnati. 

The approach from either direction is through some of 
the most magnificent scenery on the continent. From 
the East the route presents a series ol pictures full of the 
wildest grandeur. At Morganton the panorama begins. 
Two giant rocks, either one four thousand feet in height, 
stand like mighty sentinels on each side of the Linville 
river, which here escapes from between their granite 
walls. Passing on through the valley of the Catawba, 
the native habitat of the grape of that name, the scenery 
becomes even more wild and broken. 

But nearer the summit of the Blue Ridge there bursts 
upon the view a scene which for picturesqueness and 
grandeur is not surpassed in America. We see a pile of 
lofty mountains whose sides are clothed from base to 
dome in evergreen pines and balsams. Down the moun- 
tain-sides leap streams of clearest water, forming a suc- 
cession of beautiful cascades and quiet pools. Here the 
railro>ad climbs by a tortuous path, winding over trestles, 
through tunnels and along shelving rocks, in its panting 
journey to the summit, where the waters part which flow 
to the Atlantic shore and to the Gulf. 

At this point the train passes through a tunnel 1,800 
feet long, from which it emerges to make the descent of 
the western slope. Now it rapidly glides down the valley 
crossing and recrossing at intervals the romantic Swanna- 
noa. It sweeps round the curve formed by the meeting of 
the waters of the French Broad with those of the former 
stream, and soon draws up at the depot, where numerous 
busses and carriages and electric railway cars, are in 
waiting to bear the expectant traveler to his mountain 
home. 

Or, if we approach Asheville from the West, having 
come from Cincinnati or Louisville, the trip is no less 
charming. Forty miles away the train enters the grand 



17 

canon of the Frencb Broad, so narrow in places that the 
jealous river will scarcely permit the passage of the 
iron track. Hemmed in by wall and water the traSn 
sweeps by palisades, painted rocks, river islands, and the 
famous Warm Springs, where water warm enough for a 
baby's bath boils out of the bubbling sands forming 
inviting pools. 

In the ride up the valley of the French Broad, the rapid 
river, famed for its romantic scenery, is seldom lost to 
sight, but presents ever-changing viem-s of most enchant- 
ing beauty. 

THE CLIMATE. 

It is its pleasant and salubrious climate, together with 
magnificent and attractive mountain scenery, which 
makes Asheville such a popular resort for invalids and 
tourists. It is far enough South to insure a mild winter, 
while its altitude is so great as to create a cool summer. 
Thus this favored spot is the only one in this country 
which invites both the summer and winter visitor, and 
offers a pleasant residence throughout the entire year. 

The mountain region of Western North Carolina, has 
long been favoroably known for its healthful climate, 
especially for its beneficial effects, in pulmonar3" affections, 
and there are many people now living here who cameten, 
twenty, and some even a greater number of years ago, 
in various stages of pulmonary disease, and after recov- 
ering cho.se it as their permanent home. 

It is, however, only within the last few years that its 
fame has become very widespread, but so rapidly has it 
gro\"n in popular favor that its position as a resort is 
already well established, and hundreds of invalids and 
tourists in both summer and winter now visit Asheviile 
in search of health and pleasure. The mountain air is 
pure and bracing, there is a large proportion of sun-shiny 
days when out-door exercise — so important to those who 
suffer from lung disease— can be indulged in. 



i8 



It is a rare exception to find those who come here in 
search of health, fail of prompt and decided benefit. And 
those cases especially which come in the earlier stages can 
be assured of complete and permanent recovery. 

RAINFALL. 

This region has no rainy season; that is to say, the 
precipitation of moisture is quite equally distributed 
throughout the year, being excessive at no time. If any- 
thing, more rain falls in the summer months, when it is 
most welcome and causes no inconvenience; whereas the 
w^inters are comparativeh" dry, thus permitting the enjoy- 
ment of out-door life. What little snowfall there may be 
never remains long even on the highest mountains, and 
its stay in the vallcA^scan generally be measured by hours. 

The average rainfall in in-hes of the different seasons, 
for a period of eleven years, is shown as follows: 

Spring 10.1 in. 

Summer 13.5 " 

Autumn 7.1 " 

Winter 9 5 " 

Total 40.2 in. 

TEMPERATURE. 

In a series of nine 3'ears the mercury did not rise above 
90° F. any day in summer. The nights are always cool, 
permitting refreshing sleep. In winter it is very seldom 
that a zero temperature is reached, while the air is com- 
fortable, dry, clear, and mvigorating. 

The record at Asheville shows the following tempera- 
ture for the seasons : 

Spring 54.3° F. 

Summer 71.3° 

Autumn 55.3° ** 

Winter 37.2° " 

Year 55.3° F. 



SALUBRITY. 

This feature i*^ characteristic of the country adjacent to 
the Blue Ridge. No other range of long settled counties 
can show so small a ratio of mortality as those that lie 
at the western base of the Blue Ridge. 

The following table gives the ratio of consumption in 
several sections of the country. The figures indicate the 
number of deaths from this disease in every one thousand 
deaths: 

Northern New England (nearly) 250 

Minnesota and California 150 

Kentucky and Tennessee 109 

Western North Carolina 30 

But the ratio of consumption generated in a country is 
not a test of its relative capacity for promoting recovery 
when the disease is established. The lowlands of the 
South generate a much less ratio than the colder regions 
of the North, and yet, as the statistics of mortality in the 
army clearly show, they tend quite as much, if not more, 
to promote its progress when existing. 

The hot, moist Southern atmosphere by inducing 
debility and fever hastens the progress of the disease. 
On the r>f^^Ler hand, the extreme cold of higher Northern 
latitudes proves atal by exhausting the small heat-pro- 
ducing capacity of the consumptive. A moderately cool 
and highly invigorating atmosphere has been found to 
be by far the most favorable. Altitude has come to be 
recognized as indispensable to any considerable propor- 
tion of recoveries. It is, in fact, one of the most impor- 
tant conditions. 

The beneficial effects in almost all cases are felt soon 
after reaching the bracing air of this mountain region. 
Very soon after arrival the appetite improves, the cough 
is moderated, night-sweats cease, and the patient enjoys 
more refreshing sleep. And accompanyinglthis^iraprove- 



20 



ment there is a feeling of increased strength and vigor. 
This region possesses a greater number of conditions fa- 
vorable to recovery from lung diseases than any other 
part of the United States. 

Prof. Dickson, of Jefferson Medical College, Philadel- 
phia, states that the health of himself and family has 
nowhere improved so much as in Asheville. He is "not 
aware of any other spot in Europe or America so full of 
all that is desirable" as the country of Asheville. 

Asheville, for many years, was known as a Summer 
resort only, but since the erection of several large all-the- 
3^ear round hotels, its fame has gone forth throughout 
the ixorthern States, and to-day Asheville is a greater 
Winter resort for the Northern people than it ever was a 
Summer resort fur the Southerner. Now the advantage 
of the climate, both in Summer and Winter, is so well 
known that the town is full of visitors the year round, 
and the crowds are growing larger all the time. The 
wealthiest men in the world have turned their attention 
to Asheville, and are buying property here. Baring 
Brothers, the great London bankers, have recently made 
a long visit here. Also Mr. George Vanderbilt has pur- 
chased some eigbt thousand acres of land within one mile 
of the corporate limits, and is now preparing to improve 
the grounds and build a magnificent residence. 

Ex-President Cleveland and his excellent lady paid a visit 
to this place recently, and they expressed themselves de- 
lighted with our little city and its surroundings. Dr. T. 
DeWitt Talraage said when he was here, that "a man 
who could not be happy in Asheville would not enjoy 
Heaven." 

CHURCHES. 

Asheville has sixteen churches, representing almost as 
many different denominations, and there are but few 
places where there is as good attendance at church as in 
Asheville, — in fact, every one attends church. Business 






ill 



;i,^v 




21 



is entirel,v suspended on the Sabbath, and but few of the 
liverymen will hire a horse on Sunday. Business houses 
are closed; and, in fact, the morals of the place are unex- 
celled anywhere, 

SCHOOLS. 

The educational facilities of Asheville, already surpass- 
ing those of most cities of its size, are rapidly becoming 
equal to what can be found in any city of the country. 

The public schools of the city, supported by local taxa- 
tion and the city's part of the State fund, are open to all 
children between the ages of six and twenty-one years, 
and afford ample opportunity for every child to receive 
such an education as will fit it for successful manhood or 
womanhood. The course of instruction and training in 
these schools extends through ten years of ten months 
each; and the methods of teaching and discipline are 
based on the most improved principles of modern peda- 
gogery. Much of the success of the school is due to the 
fact that they have been, from their first organization, 
under the supervision of a Board of Trustees composed 
of liberal .ainded gentlemen, who spared have no reason- 
able pains or expense to put them in the first rank for effi- 
ciencj^ and thoroughness. 

The Asheville Female College, President S. N. Barker, 
is located in handsome buildings situated in most beau- 
tiful grounds, and is widely known as one of the best in- 
stitutions for the higher education of girls. It has annu- 
ally a large and increasing attendance of pupils from 
almost ever^^ State in the Union. 

The Home Industrial School and the Oakland Inn In- 
dustrial School do a much needed work, done by no other 
schools in the State. The Ravenscroft School, under the 
management of the Episcopal Church, and the Asheville 
Military Academy provide for the higher education of 
the boys. 
These schools, together with a number of excellent 



22 



private schools, make Asheville one of the best educa- 
tional centers in the South, and insure to the immigrant 
every advantage in this respect to be found anywhere. 

Asheville has four banks, three club rooms, a good pub- 
lic library, a Y. M. C. A., and as kind, and hospitable 
people as can be found on the globe. 



Asheville can boast of more and better hotels than any 
other city of its size in the United States, there being not 
less than a dozen regular hotels, all of which furnish first 
class accommodations, and at very reasonable rates. 
Some of these hotels cost as much as $200,000, and are 
kept open the entire 3^ear, in fact there has not been a 
time since the opening of the hotels when they could have 
closed for a single da}^ while most of the time they have 
been unable to accommodate near all who have applied 
for rooms. 

In the matter of boarding houses,'AsheviIle will lead 
both as to number and quality of the boarding houses, 
there being at least one hundred first-class boarding 
houses in the city and immediate vicinity where board 
can be had at from $20 per month to prices ranging as 
as high some of the hotels, according to the accommoda- 
tions desired. 

INDUSTRIAL. 

Ashevillle has an ice factory, one door, sash and blind 
factory, one cigar factory, three large planing mills, two 
Siloe factories, a carriage and wagon factory, a machine 
shop and foundry, a first-class flouring mill, one of the 
largest furniture factories in the South, and a large cot- 
ton factory working more than four hundred hands. 

Asheville has the best system of water works to be 
found anywhere. The water is brought in pipes over the 
top of "Beaumont" to the city from near the head waters 
of the Swannaiaoa, and then filtered before it enters the 



23 

city, consequently it is absolutely pure. This supply is 
inexhaustible, and is furnished exceedingly cheap to the 
consumer. 

Asheville has her streets lighted with electric light 
towers, one hundred and twenty-five feet hi^h, placed at 
proper intervals over the city, with arc and drop lights, 
and night is almost tumed into day. 

Asheville has a street railway operate by electricity; 
and the tourist or visitor is met at the depot by the 
street ears an conveyed to any part of the city for fiye 
cents. 

The citj-- is also supplied with gas of the best quality 
at a very cheap rate. 

A splendid system of sewerage has just been completed, 
and almost every house can now be accommodated with 
electricitv, water, gas, the telephone, and sewerage. 
The free delivery of the mail is being established, as Ashe- 
ville is entitled to the same. What more advantages can 
be had anywhere? Asheville has a fire company and a 
splendid hook and ladder company. • 

There are now four railroads running into the city, 
and there is good prospect of three others. Asheville 
has some of the finest residences to be found anyMihere, 
and she numbers among her population several million- 
aires. The livery stables are numerous, and some of the 
finest horses both for riding and driving are to be found 
here, and that is a very fashionable amusement both for 
residents and visitors. Those coming for health or jjlea- 
sure would do well to bring riding habits with them. 
The drives are beautiful and the roads are good. 

One hundred thousand dollars has been appropriated 
by the General Government to build a Government Court- 
house and Post-office at this place, which is now under 
course of construction. 

The streets are macadamized and the sidewalks are 
nicely paved, and during the day the streets are crowded 



24 

with private vehicles or parf ies on horse-back going to 
resorts in the vicinity or on excursions to the mountains 
or the beautiful val!e5^s in the surrounding countr^^ The 
hotels are gay at night, and music and dancing is "the 
order of the da^^" for all who enjoy it. 

There are in all twelve hotels in Asheville, good and desir- 
able places, but we have not space to separately mention 
them. There are also many boarding houses — about one 
hundred, in fact, nearly everybodj' keeps boarders. There 
are many good houses in the city for rent, and more be- 
ing bttilt. Furnished rooms can be rented for lighthouse- 
keeping for $5 to $S per month. Unfurnished houses of 
eight to twelve rooms can be rented for $25 to $35 per 
month. Small cottages rent for $6 to $10. Good board 
can be obtained in any part of the city, ranging in price 
from $20 to $50 per month. 

The market is well supplied with everything that can 
be had anywhere; vegetables always fresh and nice, and 
ver}-- cheap; fruit in abundance; the test of milk and but 
ter; no better beef can be found anywhere, at 10 to 12^ 
cents per pound; groceries and dry goods as cheap as 
can be purchased in any Northern city by retail. It wnll 
be seen that the cost of living here is no more than any- 
where else and much cheaper than in most places. 

BUSINESS AND IMPROVEMENTS. 

As a business place Asheville is not surpassed by an3^ 
Southern eity. The energy and push with which busi- 
ness is conducted here is equaled onij^ in the West. That 
the reader may have some idea of the amount of business 
and the rapid growth and enterprisejofthe city, we briefly 
enumerate the following : 

The city's trade last year amounted to $6,750,000, in 
round numbers, and more than half a million dollars 
were invested in new business and dwelling houses. 
There are now under contract and being constructed 
about fiftv new buildings, including a Government Court- 



25 



house and Post-office to cost $100,000; a new opera 
house, $50,000; and five l^rs^e three-story brick business 
houses, not less than $10,000 each. The improvements 
mentioned are all on Patton Avenue, and within the 
space of one square. The sound of the hammer and the 
hum of machinery is heard from morning until night. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

There are two daily papers, the "Citizen" and the 
"Evening [ournal," both good papers. There aro several 
weekly papers. The ''Baptist" and the '"Methodist," 
both weekly, are two good denominational papers; the 
"Tobacco Journal." weekly, and the "Country Homes," 
monthly, and several other papers and periodicals are 
published in Asheville. 

DESCRIPTIVE. 

Thousands of people resort to this place yearly, seek- 
ing health and pleasure and rest; costly equipages go 
rattling over the streets; splendid horses go prancino- 
along the avenues, bearing beauty and chivalry, wealth 
and joy, poetry and song, to the numerous romantic re- 
treats, beautiful mountain views and gushing springs 
which abound in this lovely region. Ever\'body is gay 
in this joyous season, and Nature rejoicesnvith her ad- 
mirers. Nothing can excel the brilliant^ flowers of the 
mountains. First, the graceful azaleas, bending under 
their load of red and yellow lily-like blossoms; then the 
pink clusters of the ivy, on their dark evergreen foliage 
for a back-ground, succeeded by the crowning glory of 
the season, the rich, waxy clusters, pink and white, of 
the royal rhododendron. There are great jungles of this 
hardy evergreen, with its large, glossy green leaves, 
matted in their luxuriance along every stream, and in 
July it breaks out with large bunches of flowers, made 
up of innumerable small blooms coming out from one 
foot-stalk, the whole making a most^gorgeous and bril- 



36 



liant display. No other resort in the country possesses 
so many attractions as this place. The tourist or health- 
seeker may gratify his fondness for hunting and fishing 
in the woods and streams. He will find the country rich 
in fauna, flora and minerals. He can take pleasant walks 
or rides and drives in every direction to points of special 
interest, as follows: 

Batterj^ Park, Beanmont, Fernihurst, Tahkeeostee 
Farm, Richmond Hill, Elk Mountain, Tennent's View, 
French Broad River, Strawberrj- Hill, Swannanoa River, 
Yellow Sulphur Springs, Chalybeate Springs, Arden 
Park, White Sulphur Springs, Hickory Nut Falls, Bald 
Mountain (of volcanic notoriety). Cave of the Winds, 
Pools, Chimney Rock, Pisgah Mountain (altitude 5,757 
feet). Mount Mitchell (altitude 6,717 feet), Oakland Inn, 
Riverside Park, Gouche's Peak, SuUvSet Drive, Reeras' 
Creek Falls, Craggy Mountain, Hot Springs, Skyland 
Springs, Ceesar's Head, etc., etc. He will luxuriate in a 
climate which for pleasantness cannot be excelled any- 
where on the face of thef globe, if equalled. 

RESOURCES. 

Western North Carolina is not onlj- exceedingly fertile, 
but abounds in the richer minerals, and needs but the 
magic wand of the capitalist waved over it to become 
one of the richest sections of this Union. Occupying one- 
third of the entire area of the State, and possessing more 
than a quarter of a million of inhabitants, its present 
prospects ore b^^ no means disagreeable; but its promi- 
nent citizens, of all walks of life, are anxious for immi- 
gration and development of the rich stores of gold, iron, 
copper, mica, etc., now buried in the hills. Let no one 
fancy that this mountain region is undesirable as an agri- 
cultural country; there are few richer and better adapt- 
ed to European emigration. The staple productions are 
tobacco, corn, wheat, rve, oats and hav; all vegetables 



grow abundantly, and the whole country is admirably 
fitted for grazing. The level bottom lands are under fine 
cultivation; the uplands and slopes produce rich wheat? 
the ash, the sugar maple, the hickory and the oak are 
abundant; the white pine is rafted down the Pigeon Riv- 
er in large quantities yearly. But the exceptional fertili- 
ty of most of the ranges throughout all the counties is 
the great pride of the section. The sides and tops of the 
mountains are in many cases covered with a thick vege- 
table mold, in which grow flourishing trees £nd rank 
grasses. Five thousand feet above the sea level one finds 
grasses and weeds that remind him of the lower swamp 
region. Cattle are kept in excellent condition all winter 
on the "evergreen" growing along the sides of the higher 
chains. Winter and Summer, before the ravages of war 
thinned out their stock, the farmers kept hundreds of 
cattle on the mountains, feeding entirely on grass. 

The valleys of the French Broad and Swannanoa offer 
for all kinds of husbandry an inviting field, while the cli- 
matic conditions are more than favorable. Agriculture 
is one of the interests tributary to Asheville, while the 
forest growth is a subject now attracting the attention 
of capitalists. In the country contiguous to the place 
there are to be found the yellow pine, oak of almost ev- 
ery variety, black walnut, chestnut, locust, poplar, black 
birch, cherry, maple, sycamore, mulberry, sassafras, dog- 
wood, and other well-known varieties of native woods. 

Nearly 160 minerals, simple andcompound, are found in 
Western North Carolina, many of them being extremely 
rare and of great value. In the French Broad valley gold 
exists in many localities, while future explorations will 
no doubt lead to other discoveries. This country pos- 
sesses literalh' mountains of wealth in mica, this section 
supplying nearly one-half the demand throughout the 
w^orld. 



28 



FRUIT GROWING, 



As a fruit-growing section Western North Carolina en- 
joys peculiar advantages. Apples, peaches, pears and 
apricots thrive well, and find a congenial home among 
these mountains. As for apples, there is probably no 
^art of the country where they flourish so well as in this 
section. The Centennial m.edal at Philadelphia awarded 
for fine apples was taken by Capt. Natt Atkinson, of this 
place, who was engaged in fruit growing at that time 
near Asheville; and in the following year, at the Ameri- 
can Poniological Society's meeting, in the city of Balti- 
more, the same gentleman was awarded the Wilder med- 
al for one hundred varieties of the finest apples. 

Following will be found a brief description of each place 
of interest about Asheville, and throughout Western 
North Carolina, their distance from Asheville and the 
best and safest way to reach them, &c., &c. 

It might be well to state here that parties making ex- 
cursions to any of these places should not be in too great 
haste, as without plenty of time, in most cases, the trip 
will be fatiguing and unpleasant. 

"beaucatcher." 1v,-., 

This is the local name of the elevated grounds just east 
of the city, and to the right of the gap in the ridge near 
the city Resovoir or Standpipe, and about one-half mile 
distant from the Public Square. There is no point about 
the city that better repays the rambler than a climb to 
this beautiful height to see the sunrise or sunset. 

To reach this point, enter College street at the north- 
east corner of Court Square, and drive out past the 
Female College to the east end of College street, where 
you turn to the right into the drive leading up the moun- 
tain, past the Standpipe, to the gap. Here you enter the 
grounds of Mr. Haz'/ard. to the n's^ht, but take the left- 
hand drive which leads up the eiist side of the ridge to 



29 

the right of the Gap, follow the drive to near Mr. Haz 
zard's house on the summit, where 3'ou get a very fine 
view of the city and the monntains to the west. 

Now turning to the left, follow the ridge drive which 
leads along the ridge southward for more than a mile, 
winding around the end of the ridge and returning by 
the same route to near the residence . you turn down the 
drive to the left at this point, which bnngs you back to 
the Gap. From this point, if you wish to visit 

TOWN MOUNTAIN, 

Take the drive leading up the ridge to the left of the Gap, 
which winds around the beautiful residence and grounds 
of Mr. J. E Brown, and on to the top of the mountain 
about one-half mile from the Gap. Here you get another 
fine view of the city, and being several feet higher than 
"Beaucatcher," you get a more extended view of the 
mountains in all directions. You can return by the same 
route taken in ascending. 

"sunset DRIVK." 

This beautiful and popular drive leads along the side 
of Smith's Mountain for a distance of three miles, afford- 
ing exquisite views of the city and mountains at almost 
every turn. 

Take College street, north of the Public Square, and 
turn into Oak street to your left at the College, follow 
Oak to Woodfin, turn to your right and follow Woodfin 
to Pine street, turning to your left follow Pine to the 
Winyah House, turn to the right into Broad street which 
will lead you to Sunset Drive; follow the drive to where 
it descends to the Beaver Dam road, bv which route you 
may return to the city. 

smith's mountain 
Is the high point just northeast of the city, and is a most 
delightful point for a morning trip on horseback. While 



30 

not so eas}'^ of access, the view from this height is superior 
to that from Beaucatcher or Town Mountain. 

Ride out College street to the mountain, turn to the left 
into Mountain Drive near the Old Reservoir, now keep 
the right-hand drive to the Gap on top of the mountain, 
turn to the left up the ridge which will lead you along- 
the top of the mountain, from w^hich point the view is 
almost unlimited. Return by the same route. 

"fernihurst."— connally's 

Is one of the most popular drives about the city. No 
visitor ever comes to Asheville without taking in this 
point. The road is always good and the drive the most 
pleasant, while the view is unexcelled. 

To the west may beseenMountPisgah, the Cold Moun- 
tains and some of the highest peaks of the Balsams; to 
the east is Crag-gy, with its numerous spurs, crowned 
with its pyramidal black dome, with the Black Moun- 
tains in the distance. The beautiful French Broad, wind- 
ing its way through the valley, seems to come afar from 
the base of Pisgah, with the Swannanoa flowing at your 
feet and uniting its waters with those of the former, 
while just beyond, encircled by the rivers, is the Vander- 
bilt Park stretching for miles away, making a scene of 
rare beauty. 

RICHMOND HILL. 

This pleasant drive is equaled onh'- by the Swannanoa 
drive. Its location is about four miles northwest of the 
citJ^ on an eminence overlooking the French Broad river, 
which may be seen like a great serpent winding through 
the beautiful valley for miles. 

Leaving Public Square, drive out Patton avenue to 
the first street on the right — Haywood — turn into chis 
street and drive around Battery Park to the electric light 
tower, corner of Haywood and Academy streets, turn 
into Academ3' street, which leads into the main drive, 



and down a pleasant slope to the French Broad. Here 
you cross the river on a magnificent bridge, the private 
property of Mr. Richmond Pearson, whose beautiful res- 
idence is near the summit of the drive. After crossing 
the river, the ^d leads up a wooded hill, winding back 
and forth by c^.. easy grade for about half a mile, then 
through an open field, where you get a very fine view of 
the river for two or three miles. The road from this 
point leads through another grove of stately oaks, then 
circles several times around the hill and up to the sum- 
mer house on top. Here you may feast your ej^es on 
landscapes stretching for miles away in every direction, 
affording many glimpses of the river, sparkling like silver 
through the trees. The return trip is over the same 
route. 

gouche's peak. 

While there may be other drives about the city more 
charming, and perhaps possessed of more beautiful bits 
of scenery, in our humble opinion there are none that will 
be more enjoyed by the true lover of all that is grand in 
nature, than a drive to Gouche's Peak. 

Here on this beautiful dome, nature unfolds her panor- 
ama without an end. On eYerj hand the view is unlim- 
ited. Mountains rise upon mountains until their lofty 
peaks seem to kiss the blue skj^, while at numerous places 
the waters of the French Broad glisten in the mellow 
light like a silver sheen. The ride or drive to this point 
may be a little arduous, but the laborer is well repaid for 
his toil. 

Leave Public Square by way of North Main street to 
Merrimon avenue, which takes 3^ou out the Beaver Dani 
road a mile from the city, to where the road forks, near 
a creek ; here turn to the left and proceed down the creek 
past an old mill, and about one-fourth of a mile beyond 
take the right hand road, which will lead you to the top 
of the peak. Returning, when you have reached the 



3^ 

point where you left the creek, iristead of turning up the 
creek, cross the stream into a road leading- up the hill, 
and return to the city by this route. 

ELK MOUNTAIN 

Is five miles north of the city, and is quite a favorite ride 
or drive for many. The view from this high point is very 
fine, 

Follow the route described in the trip to Gouche'sPeak 
to where the road f'-'rks near the creek ; instead of turn- 
ing to the left, keep to the right past a little church on 
the right of the road, and proceed on the main road for 
about one half mile; here you pass a white church on 
3^our right. When you have gone a few hundred yards 
beyond the church, turn to the left; follow this road to 
the top of the mountain, turning to the right; drive 
along the top of the mountain for about one and a half 
miles, to a point known as Buzzard Rock. From here 
you get a fine view and may slake your thirst at an ice- 
cold spring near by and rest before returning to the city. 

TAHKEEOSTEE. 

Tahkeeostee Farm extends along the west side of the 
French Broad River, opposite the passenger depot. This 
drive is a most delightful one, and affords many beauti- 
tiful views of mountain and river, as v/ell as a very fine 
view of the city. 

There are two routes to this point, one via Patton 
Avenue and across the . River on Smith's bridge. The 
other via South Main street, the passenger depot and 
the iron bridge near the mouth of the Swannanoa River. 

SWANNANOA. 

Swannanoa Drive is reached via South Main street to 
t'le iion bridge at Best; instead of crossing the bridge, 
turn to the left, drive up the river to the Water-works; 
returning, leave the river at Mr. Cheesborough's bridge 



33 



— the white bridije — turniii;^ U) the rij^ht and drive across 
neaucatohcr Mountaiti to the eitv. 

!«WANNANOA. 



»Y JACOl'KS, OP CHARUBRTON. S. C. 



[This bvautiful strcain rises in the Black Mountains and 
After a rollickin;^ rapid. lau^ihinK course of about 20 miles, 
buries its bvautiuil form in the French Mroad, two miles south 
of Asheville] 

Swannaiioa, nymph of beauty, 

I would woo thee in my rhyme; 
Wildest, bri.u^htest. loveliest river, 

or our sunny Southern clime! 
Swannanoa. well they named thee, 

In the mellow Indian toni^ue, 
Beautiful thou art, most truly, 

And lijLjht w(»rtliv to he suti.!^. 

I have stood by many a river 

Known to story and to sonj^— 
Ashley, Hudson, Suscjuehanna, 

Fame to which may well belout;; 
I liave camped by the Ohio, 

Tiod Scioto's fertile banks, 
I-'oliowed far the Juniata, 

In the wildest of her pranks- 
Hut thou reij^nest (pieen forever, 

Child of Appalachian hills, 
Winniui^ tribute as thou flowcst. 

From a thousand mountain rills. 
Thine is beauty, stren;^lh-l)e^otten. 

Mid tlic cloud-bei^irdled jjcaks. 
Where the patriarch of the mountain. 

Heavenward for thy waters seek. 



34 

Through the laurels and the beeches 

Bright thy silvery current shines, 
Sleeping now in granite basins, 

Overhung by trailing vines, 
And anon careering onward. 

In the maddest frolic mood. 
Waking, with its sea-like voice, 

Fairy echoes in the wood. 

Peaceful sleep thy narrow^ valleys 

In the shadow of the hills. 
And thy flower enameled border 

All the air with fragrance tills ; 
Wild luxuriance, generous tillage. 

Here alternate meet the view ; 
Every turn, through all thy winding, 

Still revealing something new. 

Where graceful Swannanoa, 

Are the warriors who of old 
Sought thee at thy mountain sources, 

Where thy springs are icy cold, — 
Where the dark-browed Indian maiden. 

Who her limbs were wont to lave 
(Worthy bath for fairer beauty), 

In thy cool and limpid wave? 

Gone forever from, thy borders. 

But immortal is thy name 
Are the red men of the forest ! 

Be thou keeper of their fame ! 
Paler races dwell beside thee; 

Celt and Saxon till thy lands, 
Wedding use unto th}^ beauty, — 

Linking over thee their hands. 

What more can be said of this, the loveliest of all rivers 
than is expressed in the above beautiful poem. Calm, 



35 

deep atiQ ^- flows onward beneath the cool shade of 

snarly trees .ch lorm perfect arches above, festooned 
by climbin,^ vines which dip their tendrils in its cooling 
waters. Wild ferns and flowers of every hue hang from 
rocks on either side, and bright-winged birds sing from a 
thousand boughs overhead, while shimmering sunbeams 
dance upon the sparkling waves below. 

I have stood upon its banks and looked down through 
its glassy waters and have seen a heaven below, and 
then looked up and beheld a heaven above, reflecting like 
two mirrors, each in the other, its moon/md planets and 
trembling stars. 

I have rambled up and down its pebble strewn banks 
Where the silence is broken only by the musical voice of 
"he murmuring waters, and where the darkness isbright- 
ned by the gleam of the sunlight flashed back through 
he tangled foliage, or the stray sunbeams that court 
alliance with the dancing water nymphs moving down- 
ward in their sportive life to calmer scenes below. 
Nowhere is there to be found a lovelier, more romantic 
ttle river, and one whose entire course abounds in such 
»rofusion and variety of its scenery, at every turn the 
^e is greeted with a- new scene so enchanting as tocause 
\e beholder to believe himself walking in fairy land, 
here rivers of crystal purity sparkle in the sunshine, 
nd where flowers bloom in perennial beauty. 
Artist and Poet alike, have expended their talent in 
portraying the beauties of this the loveliest of rivers. 
The drive from Asheville is delightful and no visitor 
should fail to enjoy a trip up the Swannanoa. 

SULPHUR SPRINGS. 

This famous health resort is situated about four and a 
lalf miles south-west of the city. It was a ver3' popular 
jsummer resort for wealthy Southerners before the war, 
land up to the time the old hotel was burned. 



36 

This fine property is owned by Mr. E. G. Carrier, who 
has recently completed an excellent brick hotel and other- 
wise improved the grounds. 

The hotel and grounds have recently been leased for a 
term of years by Dr. von Ruck, of Ohio, to be fitted up 
and converted into a first-class sanitarium. An electric 
street railwaj^ is being built from the city to this place, 
which will, doubtless, make it at once the most popular 
resort in this entire section. 

The present route is down Patton Avenue from Court 
Square, across the river at Smith's Iron bridge and out 
the main road, which is one of the most pleasant drives 
about the city, 

WEAYER\^LLE. 

The carriage road to this beautiful country village is 
via the drive to Gouche's Peak, except that where you 
leave the creek to ascend the peak you should keep the 
main road for about three miles to Weaverville, but if 
you are horseback the route described in the trip to Elk 
Mountain ma^^ be taken as far as the top of the moun- 
tain, but instead of turning to the right, pass over the 
ridge and down the other side to the village. From near 
the top of the ridge you may see the town and get a 
splendid view of the valley as well. 

Weaverville has a pretty location, surrounded by lofty 
mountains and is becoming quite a resort for visitors 
and soon expects to have connection with Asheville bj 
an electric railway. The town has many handsome re- 
sidences, a first-class male college, a woolen factory, 
good hotels and stores, and a hospitable people. There 
are also valuable mineral springs said to possess won- 
derful medical properties. 



37 

BEAUTIES OF THE FRENCH BRO;\^D RIVER. 



TAHKEEOSTEE— RACI.'<G WATERS. 

"Racing Waters," who can paint thee, 

With thy scenery wild and grand ? 
It would take a magic pencil, 

Guided by a master hand. 
Here are towering rugged mountains, 

Granite rocks all scarred and gray, 
Nature's altar, whence her incense 

Floats in wreaths of mists away. 
At their feet thy murmuring waters 

Now are singing songs of praise, 
Or in sonorous notes triumphant 

A majestic pean raise. 
Down tlie canyon's rocky gorges, 

Now they wildly, madly sweep. 
As with laughing shout triumphant 

O'er the rocks they joyous leap. 
Then in calm and limpid beauty 

Still and deep thy silent flow, 
With the verdant banks o'erhanging 

Pictured in the depths below. 
Pulsing from the heart of Nature, 

Here thy "Hot Springs" genial gush. 
There like stream from Alpine glacier. 

Down the mountain coldh^ rush. 
"Tahkeeostee" — Racing Waters — 

Was thy sonorous Indian name. 
But as "French Broad" thou art written 

On the white man's roll of f^ime. 
Perish that! but live the other! 

For on every dancing wave 
Evermore is shown the beauty 

Of the name the red man gave. 



38 

Perhaps no section of our lovely mountain country 
presents so great a variety of beautiful views as are to 
be found along this lovely river between Asheville and 
Paint Rock, Its high rocky embattlements and rugged 
palisades ; its clear, pellucid waters and ever changing 
panoramas along its entire course, all combine to make 
it a scene of grandeur and beauty. 

The river, which for twenty-five miles above Asheville, 
is remarkable for its quiet, peaceful flow, wending like a 
silver ribbon through the delightful meadows and rich 
lowlands, bordered on either hand by its settings of rug- 
ged mountains, never fail to excite the most intense ad- 
miration from every tourist. The quiet stream of the 
valley now becomes the mountain torrent and needs all 
its force and volume to burst the impediments to its on- 
ward course. 

Its voice is pheard, not in liquid murmurs now, as it 
sweeps past the vineclad and flowery banks where birch 
and willow dip their sprays in its gentle flowing waters, 
but in angry, sullen roar of the cataract, breaking 
through opposing rock-dikes, and rushing past cliffs 
that frown steep and black upon its resistless tide, now 
resting quietly as a placid lake, reflecting like a 
mirror each form of rock and hill, now rushing onward 
like a thing of life, then forming three-fourths of a circle 
as it sweeps around "Bailey's Bend," whose sides of per- 
fect symmetry stand like giant sentinels to guard the 
pass, then resting for awhile beneath the frowning brow 
of "Eagle Clifl"," as if dreading the awful fate which 
awaits it at "Stack House," over whose rugged falls the 
current madly dashes in wild terrifiic roar and then sweeps 
onward, tormented on everj' side by the obstruction of 
opposing forces, writhing, twisting and turning upon 
itself, as if driven to every point of the compass for es- 
cape; sometimes conquered and spreading out itself in 
hopeless placitude; then gathering up its energies and 



. 39 

concentrating its force into narrow limits, it dashes at 
its opponent with mad plunge and roar, and goes on its 
way a conqueror, but soon to encounter a greater bar- 
rier in the form of "Mountain Island," whose granite 
walls defy the mad rushing tide, bnt with one wild 
plunge the foaming waters leap down "Mountain 
Island Falls", forming a scene of wild magnificence and 
indescribable grandeur, then on through the noisy "Rap- 
ids" to "Deep Water." Here the mountains close in 
upon the river, forcing it throiigh a narrow channel only 
one hundred and fifty feet wide and fort\' feet deep. The 
railroad to reach the opposite bank, crosses the river 
diagonally by an iron bridge, with a clear span of two 
hundred and sixty feet, squeezing itself, as it were, 
around the rocky face of the mountain on the right bank 
to be received with the same grudging hospitality by the 
hard face of the left bank and twists itself by a ver\' short 
curve into line, which in a very few minutes brings it 
into the beautiful, smiling valley of Hot Springs. 

Who that knows anything of Western North Carolina 
but knows, by reputation, at least, this wonderful canyon, 
with its wild and ceaseless splendor of tumultuous waters, 
its overhanging clifi^s, its noble mountains and fairy 
islets ? In the time of stage-coaching it was an experi- 
ence never to be forgotten — the day's journey from Ashe- 
ville to the Warm Springs, along the turnpike which fol- 
lowed the old Indian trail and la3^ between the river and 
the cliffs, hemmed in bj^ the whirling emerald waters of the 
first and overhung by the fern-draped escarpments of the 
last, with vistas of wild and yet wilder beauty opening 
at every step. Now, a railroad train takes the traveler 
down this marvelous gorge in less than two hours, al- 
lowing only momentary glimpses of scenes on which the 
eye would wish to rest and linger with delight. 



40 



HOT SPRINGS. 




This old and famous re- 
sort is located thirty- 
eight miles below Ashe- 
ville immediately on the 
French Broad River, and 
may be reached by double 
daily trains over the 
Western North Carolina 
Railroad. No place in all 
this region is more de- 
servedly popular than 
this old and favorite re- 
sort, known far and wide 
for the beauty of the sur- 
rounding scener3^ and the 
life-giving virtues of the 
waters that bring back to the faded cheek the bloom of 
health. Located high up amid the lofty peaks of the 
Alleghany Mountains, on the banks of the beautiful 
French Broad River, where nature has shown a lavish 
hand in pouring out her treasures for man's happiness. 
Here the goddess of health has her h(jme among the 
mountains, where the blue bids blend with the azure 
skies, where the white clouds are born, here is her palace 
and her throne. Here the sweetest dews are distilled, 
here the purest air is drawn from the realms of ether, 
here flow the new-born crystal, untainted waters, where 
the balmy atmosphere laden with life-giving properties 
impart new lustre to the eye, tone to the languid pulse 
and vigor to the wasted frame. In this immediate neigh- 
borhood are numerous streams ofthepurest water which 
rise high up in the mountains, and the visitor strolling 
along their shady banks, can see nature in her wildest 
aspect; along these streams arc beautiful cascades and 



waterfalls, evergreens, holly, balsam, fir, rhododendron, 
etc., all growing in A'ild profusion. 

PAINT ROCK 

Is about six miles below Hot Springs, immediately on 
the line between Tennessee and North Carolina, and may 
be reached either by train or in carriage from Hot Springs. 
This grand and massive superstructure of nature in 
granite could not be comprehended from the mere dis- 
cription of any pen. In its wonderful structure, immen- 
sity and height, indescribably grand. Memorable ixi the 
legislation of both States, it takes its name from a tradi- 
tion, that the Indians colored portions of it with an 
indelible paint, which, in places yet remain fresh and 
red, presenting strange heirogl3'-phics that have never 
been deciphered. Covered with a prolific growth of 
summer blooming and evergreen trees, and carpeted 
with moss. 

ROUND KNOB HOTEL 



Is twent^^ miles east of 
Asheville, on the eastern 
side of 1 he Blue Ridge and 
on the line of the Western 
North Carolina Railroad. 
The tripmaj' be made from 
Asheville in one day, but 
it will be more pleasant to 
remain over night and re- 
turn next day. 

Nestled in theverj- heart 
of the Blue Ridge Moun- 
tains,!'- is perhaps nowhere 
surpassed for the wildness 
and beaut}^ of its scenery. 
At this point the tourist 
finds himself in a basin so completely ',shut in with grand 



'iMw 




42 

and lofty peaks, that he wonders from whence he entered or 
by what magic means he may escape. A brawling moun- 
tain stream rushes by, in whose crystal waters bask the 
speckled trout to tempt the angler, while near the Hotel 
is to be seen one of the most beautiful spectacles in the 
world — that glorious 'fountain — as it throws its spray 
two hundred and eighty-six feet high, then like a bridal veil 
floats off in misty fragments. It is beautiful by day, but 
far more beautiful in the moonlight, as it loses its downy 
vapor high in the air, giving to the scene a weird enchant- 
ment. 

Above our heads weaving in and out like a silver 
thread, wnnds the glistening track over which the tourist 
must pass to gain the summit of the Blue Ridge. So 
great and difiicult is the ascent that at one point four 
parallel tracks maj^ be seen one above the other, while at 
another point, as the train passes over a winding trestle 
sixtj^ feet high, the tourist might easily drop his hat on 
the track below over which he had passed a tew minutes 
before, but now going in an entirely opposite direction, 
having gained nothing on his journey save about ninety 
feet in elevation. So often does thetrack turn, twist and 
double upon itself to gain the summit, that in one of our 
views of this section the track may be seen at seventeen 
distinct points. After having gained a distance of over 
five miles of the ascent, the train is again within one- 
fourth of a mile of the Hotel, now lying far below, but 
still the center of this grand system of iron loops; by 
means of which the train is gradually rising to the region 
of the clouds. From this point to the summit, in the 
short space of one and a half miles the train passes through 
six tunnels and across numerous gorges, whose sides are 
clothed with the primeval forest where perhaps the foot 
of man never trod. The most noted of which is " Royal 
Gorge," seen from the car window, whose precipitous 
sides and deep yawning chasm form a scene of magnifi' 



43 



cent grandeur and through whose vista can be sees the 
blue mountains of S, C, two hundred miles away. On 
our left towers the lofty " Pinnacle " of the Blue Ridge, 
six thousand four hundred feet above the sea, while on 
all sides pile lesser peaks in splendid disarray, any one of 
which, but for the proximity of the greater pinnacle 
would be a monarch itself in this kingdom of the clouds. 
As the train rushes onward, suddenly without warning 
we plunge into darkness, and the famous " Swannanoa 
Tunnel," one thousand eight hundred feet long is an- 
nounced, two minutes later we emerge at the western 
end of the tunnel, in the immense cut from whoes mas- 
sive walls flow the spring which forms the "Dividing 
Waters." This is the highest point reached by the tra n. 
The waters of a spring at this point divide, part flowing 
into the Atlantic Ocean and part into the Gulf of Mexico. 
We have now entered the famous "Land of the Sky. 

HICKORY NUT GAP. 

This beautiful pass in the Blue Ridge is fourteen miles 
southeast of Asheville, directly on the road to Ruther- 
fordton, where the road crosses the Blue Ridge. 

There is nothing particularly interesting about the 
gap. The scenery here is peculiarly beautiful and the 
views very extensive. Near the top of the Ridge is the 
old-time Inn kept by Mrs. Sherrill, and many a tired and 
weary traveler has spent the night at this famous old 
stopping place — famous alike for the good fare and the 
hospitality of its mistress. 4 

The route to this point is out South Main Street to and 
across the Swannanoa river at Best. Here you take the 
Rutherfordton road which leads off to the left some two 
hundred yards beyond the bridge. The mile boards from 
this point will keep you in the right road which leads 
YOU through the gap and on to 



44 




CHIMNEY ROCK, 

Which is about nine miles 
beyond the gap. From 
this point you pass down 
one of the grandest can- 
yons of this entire region ; 
that of Broad River; far 
surpassing in our estima- 
tion the famous canyon 
of the French Broad . Here 
for a distance of nine miles 
on either side of the river 
giant mountains rise to a 
dizzy height, forming mas- 
sive walls of blue granite, 
often reaching a height of 
more than athousand feet, 
while not a sprig of vegetation appears on their surface. 
A creek large enough to turn a mill plunges over one of 
these embattlements and falls in a single stream a dis- 
tance of over thirteen hundred feet, known as Hickory 
Nut Falls, said to be the third highest falls in the United 
States. Passing on down this great gorge, we see Chim- 
ney Rock on the right, a circular column four hundred 
feet high, while on the opposite side is Round Top, with 
its pyramidal dome resting against the sky. Below we 
give a description of a sunset in this gorge by an inspired 
writer : 

"High mountains bound this vale on north and south 
while directly in front of us, like companion sentinels 
guarding the western gateway, down which the sun 
was to march, stands Round Top and Chirane3' Rock 
Mountains. Behind Chimney Rock, trending toward 
the west, arise in close succesion a number of mountains 
with distinct, broken summits — a long palisade fencing 



the gap in whose depth rushes the Broad River, In the 
centre of the west, stands Bear Wallow Mountain, the 
last visible knob of Hickory Nut Gap. 

The sun was sinking behind the white cumuli that cap- 
ped this mountain. Streamers of golden light, like the 
spokes of a celestial chariot, whose hub was the hidden 
sun, barred the western sky. The clouds shone with 
edges of beaten gold. Their centers, with every minute, 
changed to all hues imaginable. The fronts of the Sentinel 
Mountains somber in the shadows, while the gap was 
radiant with the light pouring through it, and every pine 
on the top of the palisade stood black against the glow- 
ing sky." 

About five miles from the gfip is Bat Cave which may 
be visited if 3'ou are not pressed for time, but you will 
hardly be repaid for the trip as there is nothing of mater- 
ial interest about this cave. Four miles beyond is Mrs. 
G. W. Logan's Hotel, where 3^ou will be entertained in 
royal style, and receive any information regarding the 
neighborhood vou ma\' desire. You may also secure a 
guide here which you will need if you visit Bald Moun- 
tain and Chimney Rock, and you will find Mrs. Logan's 
boys intelligent and verj^ agreeable for this purpose; al- 
ways kind and obliging and ever ready to impart any 
information you may wish to know, 

During a recent visit to this place I obtamed the fol- 
lowing information from Judge Logan, concerning this 
remarkable old Hotel. "About sixty years ago, says the 
Judge, this house was built by a Mr. Harris, who lived 
here for a great number of years; raised a large family 
who were married off, and the property fell into other 
hands, all of whom kept the house as a public stopping 
place ; in fact it has been used continually from the time 
it was built as a public Inn, where thousands of people 
have stopped during these years, and strange to say 
there has never occured a single death in the house." 



46 

What other public house as old as this one can say as 
much? we dare siy none. 

From the Hotel you m£ij visit Bald Mountain, — Old 1 
Shaking Bald — and the "Cave of the Winds," which are j 
about two miles away, the entrance to the cave is ^^ery 
small, but presently you enter a large room from which i 
you may look out through an opening or window on the 
valley and mountains, there is nothing of very special, 
interest about the cave, but Bald Mountain has been a 
point of great interest for a number of years, especially 
to scientists. In 1874 this mountain became quite pro- 
minent by being violently shaken with an earth-quake — 
like rumbling, breaking dishes and windows for miles 
around. Since then rumblings have been heard repeat- 
edly, and it is claimed that smoke has been seen rising 
from the mountain at such times. There is a fissure 
across the end of the mountain of unknown depth, and 
half a mile long and from six to eight feet wide in places. 
This fissure has been gradually widening since 1874, and 
is possibly due to the gradual upheaval of the mountain. . 

Mrs. Burnett, a few years ago, while on a visit to 
Bald Mountain wrote her celebrated play "Esmeralda" 
w^hich has become one of the most popular dramas of 
the American stage. "Esmeralda's Cabin" is in plain 
view from the Hotel, perched on the side of the Bald 
Mountain, this cabin is a peculiar formation of rock re- 
resembling a real cabin at a distance, when the sunlight 
falls on the rock from a certain direction. 

The "Old Man's Face" is another freak of nature, in 
this locality, and is of chief interest to every visitor to 
this place. It is located- on the side of Bald Mountain 
but a short distance from "Esmerald's Cabin" and is in 
plain view from Mrs. Logan's front piazza, the rock 
formation represents very perfectly, an old man's face in 
nearly a three quarter view, lying diagonally along the 
side of the mountain with forehead, eyes, nose, mouth 



47 

and chin, with grey beard, so perfectly outlined in the 
rock by the seams and rifts, that one might suppose 
some giant sculptor had actually carved the features 
with chisel and mallet. 

The "Pools" is another great curiosity as well as my- 
stery to the geologist, there are three of them, one abo^'e 
the other and several yards apart, they are -in the bed 
of a good sized creek which comes down a mountain 
gorge and pours itself over a ledge of rock into the upper 
pool which is some ten feet in diameter and looks for all 
the v\rorld like it had been drilled out in the solid rock 
with a huge auger, this one is some fifteen feet deep, the 
water flows from this pool down over moss-covered 
rocks a distance of fifty feet and plunges into the second 
pool, which is a fac-simile of the first in size and general 
appearance, but is about eighty feet deep, the third or 
lower pool is perhaps seventy-five feet below the second 
one and is a counterpart of the other two in appearance, 
but unlike them it seems to be bottomless, so far as has 
been ascertained, having, been sounded to a depth of two 
hundred feet without finding bottom. This point may 
be easily reached without a guide. 

Last but not least in this wonderland of curiosities is 
Chimney Rock, about two miles distant from the Hotel, 
it will be necessary to have a guide to this point, as 
there is a very poor trail to follow. The rock is a cir- 
cular column of solid granite about sixty feet in diameter 
and reaching a height of nearly five hundred feet and 
almost perpendicular, with a few small pine shrubs 
growing on the top. From this point the view is ex- 
ceedingly grand, stretching for miles away in all direc- 
tions. 

Of all the places we have visited in Western North 
Carolina, there are none that can compare with this sec- 
tion for fine scenery and natural curiosities. 



4S 



Alexander's. 

This famons old resort was known long ago, when the 
old time stage-coach was the only means of making the 
journey down the Freiich Broad from Asheville to Hot 
Springs. 

The name of Alexander's is synonymous in the mind of 
the visitor with homely old-fashioned comfort. Miss 
Fisher in her "Land of the Sky" sa_vs of this beautiful 
resort : "This place looks pastoral in its loveliness as 
we approach the embowered house lying in the arms of 
encircling hills, with the glassy river front painted in 
sunset hues." Situated just ten miles below Ash(ville, 
on the banks of the historic French Broad River, it is 
reached by rail or by private conveyance down the river 
bank. Driving out North Main street, you take theriver 
road, which takes you within a mile of the beautiful 
Reem's Creek Falls, on a bold stream w^hich empties into 
the French Broad River, two miles above Alexander's. 
The roadway leads up the stream from its mouth, A 
view of the Falls well repays the time and trouble. 

ROAN MOUNTAIN. 

This majestic old mountain is one of the highest points 
in the Smoky Mountain range. The famous Cloudland 
Hotel is located on the sum^mit of this lofty mountain, 
6,394 feet above sea level, and is claimed to be the high- 
est habitation east of ttie Rocky Mountains. The hotel 
is directly on the line between Tennessee and North Caro- 
lina, and about seventy miles northeast from Asheville 
by the nearest route. Cloudland Hotel enjoys a wide 
reputation, and as a summer resort, there is, perhaps, 
no more pleasant place to spend the summer vacation. 
There are over one hundred mountain tops in sight below, 
that a^e more than four thousand feet high. 

The view reaches into seven different States, viz: West 




w I 




49 

Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, 
South Carolina and Tennessee. 

The view from this point extends a distance of 150 
miles in every direction and embraces an area of 50,000 
square miles. 

During the months of June and July therhododendrong, 
azaleas, heather and houstonias are in bloom and pre- 
sent a scene of rare beauty. 

The tourist who prefers riding in carriages or on horse 
back to that of a railroad coach, will find the folio v^ing 
a most delightful route, besides the most direct route to 
the Roan Alountain: 

Leaving Asheville via North Main Street, to Merrimon. 
Avenue and thence on to Weaverville, eight miles north 
of Asheville, from here you take the Burnsville road to- 
this village a distance of about thirty miles, thence to- 
Bakers^iille a distance of eighteen miles, and from here to* 
Roan Mountain which is about ten miles distant. 

Those who maj^ not care to risk the fatigue incident 
to a trip in a carriage or the saddle should go b3^ rail via 
Hot Springs and Morristown, Tenn., and over the East 
Tennessee Railroad to Johnson City, Tenn. Here you 
take the Narrow Guage Road which leads through the 
wildest "gorge of the Alleghanies. This wonderful canon 
is about four miles long with precipitous sides of solid 
rock, twdve to fifteen hundred feet high. The train 
passes through four tunnels and over numerous bridges, 
some of which are more than a hundred feet above the 
stream below. Twenty-six miles from Johnson City you 
stop at Roan Mountain Station where there is a well- 
kept Hotel, owned by the Roan Mountain Hotel Com- 
pany. From here you take the stage or a carriage to 
Roan Mountain, a distance of twelve and a half miles 
over a winding road from which the view is delightful at 
almost every turn of the road. 



"mount PISGAH," 

Lying to the south-west from Asheville, about eighteen 
miles distant and forming one of the most pleasing and 
extensive landscape views to be found, is that noble 
range of the Balsam Mountains, conspicuous among 
which is the lofty and cone-like peak of Mount Pisgah. 
This grand old peak is a favorite point for excursion and 
picnic parties from the city, and is reached in vehicles by 
an excellent graded road, some twenty miles in length, 
while the pedestrian can reach it by numerous paths not 
so long, but more steep. 

To reach Pisgah, cross the French Broad on the iron 
bridge near the cotton factory, the road leads out past 
Hominy, some four miles from the city and on to the 
foot of the mountain, where you may lodge for the night 
at Mrs. Foister's, a very pleasant stopping place, it is 
always better to make the trip to the top of the- moun- 
tain in the forenoon as it is said showers are less fre- 
quent in that part of the day on this mountain. The 
road is a winding route but moderately good for a moun- 
tain road, the summit of the mountain is rocky and only 
a few rods in width, the view from the top is one of the 
finest to be obtained anywhere. The altitude of this 
beautiful peak is 5,757 feet and is clothed with a heavy 
growth of numerous forest trees to the summit. 



=51 




WAYNESYILLE. 

Thirty miles west of Ashe-- 
ville on the Murphy Divis- 
ion of the Western North. 
Carolina Railroad is lo- 
cated one of the most dt" 
lio htful Summer 'resorts 
to be found in this moun- 
tain region. 

The vfllage of Waynes- 
ville, the county-seat of 
Haywood, is 2,756 feet 
above the sea. Of the 
peaks in sight around the 
town, five attain a height 
of over 6,000 feet. These 
mountains are clothed 
from base to summit with 
a heavy growth of woods. Extending across the south 
with a rich mantle of dark firs is the Balsam Range, 
while the Haywood mountains, bounding the northern 
line of vision, are, owing to their distance, clothed in a 
rich purple hue, while masses of white clouds hang about 
their summits, which, at sunset turn to orange, run to 
molten gold and then blazing with scarlet resolve into 
darkness. 

The village was named in honor of " Mad Anthony " 
Wayne, many years ago. Since the construction of the 
railroad through the place, a new energy has been en- 
thused into it, and each year hundreds of Summer visi- 
tors crowd its magnificent hotels to enjoy the delightful 
scenery and drink of its life-giving mineral springs. 

The White Sulphur Springs Hotel is located a short 
distance from the main town and near the railroad, the 
hotel is a beautiful building, niceh^ furnished and well- 



52 

kept. The grounds are large and shady with lovely 
walks, while the waters have long been celebrated for 
their medicinal properties. 

Trains leave Asheville daily affording a delightful trip 
out and return the same day. 

HIGHLANDS. 

This deservedly popular Summer resort is situated on 
.51 beautiful undulating plateau near the crest of the Blue 
Ridge, 3,750 feet above the sea level, in the southern part 
,,of Macon county, eight miles north-west of the point of 
intersection of the State lines of North Carolina, South 
tCaroliiia and Georgia. The town was founded in 1874 
hj Ml-. Kelsey and Air. Hutchinson, and has since grown 
to be one of the most pleasant resorts for Southerners in 
this mountain section, the villiage now numbers several 
hundred souls. Along its beautiful streets are numerous 
pleasant dwellings, while there are a number of churches 
representing different denominations, several first-class 
stores, post-office, and excellent schools that are kept 
open and run for regular terms. 

The lofty altitude of this plateau, and the precipitous 
fronts of its rimming mountains bespeak for its neigh- 
borhood, scenes of grandeur, waterfalls, gorges, mad 
streams, crags, and forests which, when looked upon 
from above, with their appalling hush, warn back the 
observer. Whiteside Mountain a few miles from the 
town is a point of special interest, and one which no 
tourist in tiiis section should fail to visit, the view from 
top of this monarch is unsurpassed, the landmarks of 
four States is crowded withm the vision. Mount Yonah. 
lifting its head in clouds, is the most marked point in 
Georgia; a white cluster to the southward indicatingthe 
German settlement of Walhalla, is to be seen in the level 
plains of South Carolina; while the Smoky Mountains 
which mark the southeastern boundar}- of Tennessee 



53 

lift their summits against the north-western skv, and on 
every side in splendid disarray are spread out the peaks 
and valleys of the State, in which the feet of Whiteside 
are rooted. You can here visit mountain peaks nearly 
as high as Mount Washington, stand under cliffs which 
rear their heads 1,800 feet high, hang over waterfalls 
which plunge their volume hundreds of feet into the boil- 
ing abyss, or linger with delight around falls and cas- 
cades which are not surpassed for beauty anywhere. 

This section is specially adapted to fruit growing and 
grazing, all the different grasses grow luxuriantly here, 
while the cereals all produce abundantly. 

The distance to Highlands from Asheville is about 
eighty miles by the most direct route which is over the 
Murphy division of the W. NT. C. Railroad to Sylva or 
Dillsboro, from Sylva you take the hack direct to High- 
lands. 

At Dillsboro 3'ou take the hack via Franklin, there be- 
ing little difference in the routes. 

Parlies from the South and Kast should go bv rail to 
Walhalla, S. C, and then take the hack for Highlands, a 
distance of about thirty miles. 

FRANKLIN. 

This young town is the county seat of Macon, is situ- 
ated in the heart of one of the most fertile sections of 
Western North Carolina — the valley of the Little Tenn- 
essee River. The town site is a beautiful one, on an ele- 
vation on the west bank of the river. One of the most 
charming views of the village and the beautiful valley is 
^on the road coming from Highlands. 

Franklin is surrounded with a beautiful farming sec- 
tion and vast timber lands, where all the valuable hard 
woods are found in abundance. In the past 3'ears mica 
-mining has been carried on in the vicinitv to a paying 
extent, in fact, the entire section abounds with untold 



54 

mineral wealth, gold, silver, copper and iron are found 
in large quantities. 

Of late years there are scores of tourists and pleasure 
seekers who spend the summers in this village, which is 
destined at no distant day to become one of the popu- 
lar resorts of the country. It is 71 miles southwest 
from Asheville, and is reached via. Murphy Division of 
the W. N. C. Railroad to Dillsboro, where you take the 
Franklin hack. 

ARDEN PARK. 

Ten miles south of Asheville, on the Asheville & Spar- 
tanburg Railroad, is the location of this favored resort; 
this fine estate comprises more than 300 acres of beauti- 
ful land, a good portion of which is in natural forest, 
while the cleared portion is in an excellent state of culti- 
vation. Upon an elevation, near the center of this ele- 
gant park, is situated the residence of Mr. C. W. Beal, 
who owns the estate, while near by is the beautiful Ar- 
den Park Hotel, which sets back some distance from the 
railroad station. The delightful drive from the station 
to the hotel, along a devious road and through a natural 
grove of extreme beauty, will recall to the visitor the 
famous forest from which it might have taken its name. 
The locality has long been noted for its salubrious climate 
and enchanting mountain views. From its high eleva- 
tion it commands to the west a view of Mount Pisgah 
and other near and more distant giants of the Blue Ridge. 
The sunset views are gorgeous and beyond the power of 
the artist's or poet's pencil to describe. The Park is rich- 
ly favored with springs, both of mineral and ice-cold 
freestone water. A chalybeate spring, near the hotel, has 
been analyzed and found almost identical in its proper- 
ties with ^he famed "Sweetwater," in Virginia. 

Surrounded by the ordinary scenes of rural farm life, 
this hotel partakes more of the character of a country 
home than any we have seen, and the visitor to the 



55 

mountains of North Carolina should not fail to spend at 
least a part of his time at Arden Park. 

HENDERSONYILLE. 

This "gem" of mountain towns is located twenty miles 
south of Asheville, on the A. & S. Railroad, and is the 
main town of the upper French Broad region. It is the 
second in size west of the Blue Ridge. The town alwaj'S 
lias a cheerful look; the streets are clean and shady, the 
main street is wide and quite attractive by the rows of 
shade trees along its entire length, one on either side and 
one in the centre. There are a large number of elegant 
stores well filled with merchandise, while the business 
houses are, many of them, brick structures, giving to the 
stranger at once a very favorable impression. 

The residences are, many of them, elegant mansions, 
while all are tasty and home-like, with beautiful lawns 
and flower beds, showing a marked indication of refine- 
ment and culture. There are numerous boarding houses 
and excellent hotels, which, during the summer season, 
are crowded with visitors and health-seekers. There 
seems to be no pains spared among the citizens to make 
the visitors feel pleasant by providing every means of 
comfort and enjoyment in their power. 

There are a number of different places of resort around 
the town where strangers ma^^ visit. "Stronj^," about 
four miles from town, commands a magnificent view of 
the Ochlawaha valley, and a fine view of the French 
Broad River. From Mount Hebron is a fine view of 
rugged and broken country, from some of the high points 
about the town may be seen Sugar Loaf, Bear Wallow, 
Tryon, Shaking Bald, &c. 

The route to Hendersonville from Asheville is via. the 
Asheville & Spartanburg road, a pleasant ride of less 
than one hour; parties coming from the South should 
come via. Spartanburg, S. C. 



56 




li#^ikii{.;^.v- ^tefe^^ %. t1 



C^SA& S HEAD. 

Aliout forlY-five miles, a 
little to the southwest of 
Asheville, and on the line 
between North and South 
Carolina, will be found 
one of the most interest- 
ing as well as most won- 
derful sections of country 
in the Blue Rid<2:e s^'stem. 
There are two routes to 
this point from Asheville, 
one up the French Broad 
Yalley to Brevard, a dis- 
tance of tw^en t3'-eight 
miles, and thence to Caes- 
ar's Head sixteen miles. 
The other route is via. the A. & 3. Railroad to Hender- 
sonville, thence by private conveyance via. Buck Forest 
to Cesar's Head; the latter route is, perhaps, the best, as 
only about half the distance is by private conveyance. 
This route leads through the picturesque valley of the 
tipper French Broad region. After traversing wild and 
fertile valleys the road leads between close mountain 
slopes, along a narrow gorge, through which the Little 
River madly rushes for a distance of four miles, roaring 
and splashing in a continuous succession of wild, noisy, 
rapids. On this route there are many beautiful water- 
falls, such as the Bridal Veil, High. Little River, Conestee 
and Triple Falls, of which the Bridle Veil Falls is the 
most noted. Caesar's Head is form.ed by a spur of the 
Blue Ridge from which you may look down into an 
abyss two thousand feet below. From this dizzy height 
the peaks of the Biue Ridge maybe observed for scores of 
miles in each direction; looking northeast you may see 
the famous King's Mountain, seventy miles away, while 



57 

in the opposite direction you can see Stone Mountain, 
near Atlanta, Georgia, over one hundred miles away. 
Looking to the north, a distance of a little more than 
one hundred miles, is the Roan Mountain, while to the 
northeast you may see the black dome of Mount Mitch- 
ell, full sixty-five miles away. In the northwest, about 
thirty-five miles away, is Pisgah, resembling a great 
Egyptian pyramid in outline, while directly to the west 
is the Highlands of Macon county, with the Whiteside 
Mountain, glittering like an iceberg in the sunlight. 

"Caesar's Head" proper is in the real or imaginary 
resemblance to a hnman face in the profile of the great 
rock which forms the projecting spur of the mountain, 
and takes a very great effort or stretch of the immagi- 
nation to make out the slightest resemblance to a char- 
acteristic Roman face, as in the case of Ceesar. Our illus- 
tration gives a good view of the "Head" in profile. 
From the top of this wonderful precipice the view is 
strangely suggestive of a great stretch of ocean. The 
blue waves of the ocean find their counterpart in the 
waves of these blue mountains, with their corrugations 
extending far out until the outline is lost in the hazy dis- 
tance. There is no grander sight than a view from this 
point at sunrise, when the world below is buried from 
sight in an ocean of impenetrable fog, and the great 
billow^s of fleecy mist rolling like ocean waves, while the 
breaker-like roar of cataracts a thousand feet below, 
makes the deception complete. 

The Caesar's Head Hotel is situated a fourth of a mile 
from the "Head," where many visitors stop during the 
season to enjoy the fine scenery and invigorating atmos- 
phere. There is very fine mineral water in the immediate 
vicinity of the hotel, and in the near future this point is 
sure to become a favorite resort furthousauds of visitors 
yearly. 

The return may be made over the same route as going, 



5S 

or via Brevard. This little town is the county-seat of 
Transylvania, there are man}" places of interest in this 
vicinity. Shining Rock is the principal point, this great 
body of white cjuartz sparkling in the sunshine may be 
seen for thirty miles, it forms at immense precipice some 
600 feet in height and about one mile in length. 

Leaving Brevard you follow the French Broad valle}^ 
returning to Asheville. 

SKYLAND SPRINGS. 

This new resort was opened less than two years ago, 
and is fast becoming one of the leading resorts of the 
country. It is eight miles south of Asheville, on the 
Asheville and Spartanburg Railroad. A new station has 
been established here with neat passenger and freight 
depots. The main hotel is within seventy-five yards of 
the passenger depot, and only a short distance from one 
of the finest mineral springs in the South. A recent an- 
alysis of the water shows it to possess properties al- 
most identical with that of the celebrated Tate Epsom 
Springs of East Tennessee. There are located within the 
immediate vicinity of the Hotel not less than a dozen 
fine mineral springs all possessing rare virtues in the 
cure of dyspepsia, kidney, and liver diseases, &c., in addi. 
tion to the large and commodious hotel which has just 
recently been purchased by a Northern gentleman. Prof. 
O. A. Miller— the founder of the place and former owner of 
the hotel — has erected several beautiful cottages for the ac- 
commodation of parties who may wish to spend the 
season here with their families. This we consider one of 
the most promising locations for a flourishing town in 
the western part of the State. There has been about two 
hundred lots purchased here since the establishment of 
the hotel, by parties from different points. Several of 
whom are now building nice homes, and all of whom 
expect to build very soon. 



59 

"Bonnycrest," the residence of Prof. Miller is beauti- 
fully located on an elevation north-east of the hotel, 
and commanding a most exquisite view of the surround- 
ing mountains including the Balsam range with Mount 
Pisgah as the central object. 

There are churches of different denominations where 
there is preaching and Sunday-school every Sunday, 
there are also good da^'-schools kept open for the full 
term. The country adjacent is excellenc for farming and 
all kinds of fruit-raising. 

To reach Skyland take the train from Asheville via A. 
& S. Railroad. 

MOUNT MITCHELL. 

The distance from Asheville by the nearest route to the 
summit of this famous peak is twenty-eight miles, but 
by far the easiest and best route is that up the Swan- 
annoa River, a distance of thirty miles. Arrangements 
should be made to start on this trip after a rainy spell, 
or when there is a promiseof several days of fair weather, 
as it is very unpleasant to be out in the Black Mountains 
during rainy weather. Parties contemplating this trip 
should not fail to provide blankets and warm clothing — 
as on the "peak" the nights are quite cold — unless you 
depend on you^ guide whom you will have to have from 
the foot of the mountain, unless you take one from Ashe- 
ville to furnish these necessaries. 

If the tourist to this point wishes the services of Big 
Tom Wilson — the famous Black Mountain guide — to pilot 
him through the mountains and up to the summit, he 
should leave Asheville via. the Weaverville road to that 
point, eight miles distant; by this route the distance is 
28 miles, but must be made in the saddle; leaving Weav- 
erville you take the road to Barnardsville, here you turn 
to your right, up the north fork of Ivy Creek, to the top 
of the ridge, and do A^n Caney Creek to Big Tom Wilson's. 
Here you may spend the night and start on the morrow 



6o 



with "Big Tom" as guide up th _■ "Black," a distance of 
ten miles, which maybe made in the saddle or on foot, 
if you are a good walker; there are many points of local 
interest from here to the "Peak," all of which will be 
pointed out to you by the guide, such as "The Big Pop- 
lar," the "Beech Nursery," where, it is said, the bears fre- 
quent to gather the nuts from these trees, the "Briar 
Patch," through immense clusters of rhododendrons, and 
on to the "Cold Spring," the usual place for rest and 
lunch. Next, beyond this point, is the "Meadow" from, 
where you get a fine view of the mountains and valleys 
Iving far beU)w your feet. Your next resting place will 
be the summit, when you may forget your tired limbs 
and rest your ej'^es on the scene before you. 

THE SWANNANOA ROUTE. 

Leaving the city via. South Main Street totheSwanna- 
noa River, turn to the left and proceed up the river, cross- 
ing to the right bank, on a bridge, some six miles above 
the citA^ proceed to Cooper's Station, ten miles from 
Asheville, here you recross the river to your left, and pro- 
ceed up the "North Fork" to the Widow Patton's, a 
distance of 20 miles from your starting point. If you 
are traveling in a carriage you will here have to abandon 
it, and take to your saddle for the remainder of the route, 
as the ascent begins at this point. You may spend the 
night here, which is a good place to stop, and make ar- 
rangements for your guide, and bedding, and rations, 
unless you have them provided [before starting out. 
You are now fenced in by giant mountains on either side 
and in front; to your right the Black mountains rear 
their lofty peaks until lost to sight among the clouds, 
while on your left the Craggies, seemingly envious of 
their dark neighbors, rear their bald summits to a height 
of 6,090 feet, with the lesserpeaks of both ranges crowd- 
ing so closely upon each other as to completely cut off 




tfn^f /# 



6i 



further progress. Although surrounded by these monarchs 
of the Appalachians, strange to say, you are now at an 
altitude no greater than that of Asheville. 

"gombroon," 

The mountain home or summer residence of U. S. Senator 
Z.B.Vance, is located but a few hundred yards from Mrs. 
Patton's, on a beautiful wooded spur of the Craggy 
Mountain. The building is new, having been completed 
less than a year ago; the house is of beautiful design and 
admirably adapted to the location, standing in a beauti- 
ful grove of stately oaks, chestnuts, hemlocks and pines 
— trees that drank the dews of heaven, or smiled in the 
sunshine, or braved the wind, and storm, and tempest 
an hundred years ago. Many of them, I dare say, were 
silent companions of the mountain crags and p^ak long 
before the turf beneath their branches were profaned or 
glorified by the foot of man, and quivered at the ominous 
sound of the first axe-falls of the pioneer that waked the 
echoes of these solitudes of forests, streams and moun- 
tains. Amongsuch trees, on such a spot, amifl the moun- 
tains of his native State, has Buncombe's great son 
chosen to build his house. 

Strong contrast is the Senator's life here to what it is 
in Washington city, his winter residence. But it is a 
most restful change, and the whirl of political and social 
activity and gaieties at the capital during the winter 
season, far from weaning him from North Carolina, 
"But binds him to his native mountains more." 

Here in his secluded mountain retreat he may say: 
"What now to me are the jars of life. 
Its petty cares, its harder throes? 
The hills are free from toil and strife. 
And clasp me in their deep repose." 



63 



THE ASCENT TO MITCHELL S A^EAK, 

The loftiest of Atlantic summits, and the monarch of the 
Appalachian system. The chief summit — once known as 
the Black Dome — then as Clingman's, and now as Mitch- 
ell's Peak, is of arduous but not difficult ascent. Leaving 
Mrs Patton's in compan3^ with your guide, the upward 
way lies through superb forests of deciduous trees and 
along the banks of the rushing Swannanoa, until after a 
climb of five miles, the second base of the mountain is 
reached— a small grassy plateau, where a residence once 
stood — now known as the ''Half-way House." From 
this point the world bclovv^ unrolls before the gaze like 
an azure scroll, while above, awful in its nearness and 
immensity, towers the dark mass of the Black, clothed 
with the sombre forest, into the depths of which the 
the path now plunges, and which it does not leave again 
until the final summit is reached. Winding in snake-like 
turns through the close-growing firs, the trail climbs the 
steep shoulders of the great mountain, passing over what 
is now known as Clingman Dome (of the Blacks) and 
then following its ridges for about three miles, until the 
bare rocky peak, which is the highest point of land east 
of the Rocky Mountains is reached, and all hardships of 
ascent are forgotten in the view before the gaze. 

If the day is clear the view is almost boundless in 
extent and of infinite beaut5^ Range behind range of 
great mountains he below, like a Titanic ocean stilled by 
some mighty hand. From this supreme elevation it is 
possible to stud^' the structural character of the region, 
and to count all the great chains that cross the country, 
while no words can express the varying and exquisite 
color that, like a glamour of heavenly enchantment lies 
over the wideexpanse. The whole earth, "aud the beauty 
thereof" seems to be spread at one's feet, and the airs 
that come to this high mountain crest are full of fresh- 



63 



ness and balm. To witness a sunset from this peak is 
something long to be remembered. Never shall I forget 
that evening in June, when in company with my guide, 
we stood b}' the grave on the summit of Mount Mitchell 
and looked down on that scene of resplendent glory that 
lay before us ; far in the west the sun was slowly sinking 
in a bed of crimson and gold, the horizon w^as lighted 
with a flushing radiance which was infinitely sublime, 
while the whole landscape was aglow with splendor, 
every tint and hue imaginable seemed to intermingle in 
that sea of color, and every jutting crag, and dome, and 
pinnacle of sullen rock flamed as though a thousand rain- 
bows had fallen out of the sky and hung themselves 
there like glorious banners; we stand enthralled at the 
scene before us, no sound is heard, no note of bird breaks 
the awful stillness. We are in the region of that eternal 
silence which wraps the summit of the "everlasting hills." 
A hush of silent repose broods over this lofty peak, which 
still retains the last rays of the setting sun, while over 
the world below twilight has fallen. 

" How fair this lone and lovely scene, 

And yonder dropping fiery ball, 
And eve's sweet spirit, which steals unseen 
With darkness over all!" 

But it is not only from its unsurpassed view that this 
great mountain is interesting. Its vast sides are clothed 
with a forest of bewildering beauty, cr3^stal streams gush 
from its heights, and there is, altogether, a fascination 
about this wild unpeopled region that goes farto account 
for the passion which caused Professor Mitchell to lose 
his life in wandering through its wilderness. 

Near at hand, to the westward, the massive heights of 
Craggy rise, but with a more gentle aspect, and a flora 
of rare interest. Its spurs extend southward until they 
end in the hills that encircle the gentle valley in which 
Asheville lies. 



64 

Why is this mountain called "Mount Mitchell" ? This 
question is aften asked by strangers not acquainted with 
the circumstances connected with its history, and an ex- 
planation here will not be out of place. 

In the year of 1835, Rev. Elisha Mitchell, D.D., then 
Protessor in the State University of North Carolina, an- 
nounced to the Board of Public Imorovements his inten- 
tion to make a geographical survey of this mountain — 
as it was then generally supposed to be higher than 
Mount Washington — and with no other interest than that 
of contributing to scientific knowledge, he made the first 
barometrical measurements, west of the Blue Ridge. With 
great labor and patience he climbed the many peaks of 
the Black Mountains, and announced the result of his 
labors. Dr. Mitchell's report was the first authentic an- 
nouncement of the superior altitude of the highest South- 
ern summit to that of Mount Washington. 

In 1844, Dr. Mitchell made another visit to this region 
to confirm his former measurements. About this time 
the Hon. Thomas L. Clingman, then a member of Con- 
gress, and interested in scientific researches, announced 
that he had found a higher peak than the one measured 
by Dr. Mitchell. In the controversy that followed it was 
generally admitted that General Clingman had measured 
the highest point of ground, but the question was: had 
Dr. Mitchell measured this same peak or had he measur- 
ed some other peak? 

To confirm the correctness of his previous measure- 
ments and reports. Dr. Mitchell, again in 1857, visited 
the mountain, accompanied by his son, Charles Mitchell. 
On Saturday, June 27th, at noon, they had reached the 
Mountain House about hah way up the mountain. Dis- 
missing his son and assistant, the Professor started 
across the mountain by the same route he had taken in 
1844, desiring to see Big Tom Wilson, the guide who had 
accompanied him during his previous visits, giving in- 



65 

structions to his son to meet him on Monday at a cei'tain 
point on the mountain. On Monday, young Mitchell re- 
paired to the appointed place and passed the day with- 
out seeing anything of his father. The second day passed 
without his appearance. The third day passed in like 
manner, which confirmed the son's belief that something 
had happened to his father. The alarm was given which 
spread over the neighborhood. Messengers were sent 
across the mountain to Wilson's, but he had not been 
seen there. From every direction came anxious people 
to engage in the search for the missing man, until at 
least 500 men and women were searching in the moun- 
tains, but no trace could be found of the lost Professor. 
On Tuesday,— ten days after Professor Mitchell left his 
son — a foot-print was found in the turf near the summit 
now known as Mitchell's Peak, the foot-print was recog- 
nized as that of Dr. Mitchell's, and Wilson— Dr. Mitchell's 
former guide — declared this to be the same peak they 
had measured in 1844, thus confirming Professor Mitch- 
ell's former report. Thisold mountaineer folio wed by three 
or four others who were with him followed the dim trail 
down a ravine for more than a mile where it led over a 
precipice some thirty feet high, and there below in a pool 
of crystal water soine thirteen feet deep lay the lifeless 
form of Dr. Mitchell. 

A writer has described in the following beautiful man- 
ner the circumstance: 

"The pure waters enveloped him in their windingsheet 
of crystal ; the leaping cataract sang his requiem in that 
wondrous and eternal song, of which old Ocean furnishes 
the grand, all-comprehensive key. Cream and white 
flowers flaked the billowy thickets of the dark green 
laurel, and tall conical firs, delicately tapering spruces 
interlocked their weeping branches from shore to shore." 

The body of Dr. Mitchell was conveyed to Asheville, 
where it was buried. A year after it was disinterred and 



taken back to this same bigh peak and buried onitssum- 
mit, where it still rests, awaiting the Resurrection morn. 
Here, where the moaning winds sing a requiem around 
his grave, and the dewy clouds drop a pearly tear as they 
pass, may he sleep in peace until the last great da}'. 

There has recently been a beautiful monument erected 
over the grave by means of funds bequeathed for that 
purpose by his youngest daughter. The arduous task of 
erecting the monument on this high peak having been 
undertaken by the Faculty of the State Universitv, was 
entrusted to the supervision of Dr. W. B. Phillips, now 
of Birmingham, Ala., and was by persevering and ener- 
getic labors, successfully accomplished in July, 1889. 

Since his death, Dr. Mitchell's claim to havinij first 
measured this peak, which has ever since borne his name, 
is undisputed. 

THE CHEROKEE INDIANS. 

The most ancient history w^e have of the mountainous 
country known as the Southern Highlands, is handed 
down to us through Indian tradition by the Cherokees. 
We learn through this channel that before this ancient 
tribe of warriors conquered this section and settled in 
their present territory, the country was occupied by a 
tribe of ''moon-eyed" people, who were unable to see 
during certain periods of the moon, and that during one 
of these periods of blindness the Creek Indians pouied 
through the mountain passes and massacred the entire 
race. Later the Cherokees made war upon the Creeks 
and almost annihilated the tribe. 

From the legendary romances we find in the traditions 
of the Cherokees, we are led to believe that the time when 
this once great nation first conquered the country was 
at a very ancient period. The fact of their adopted coun- 
try being the seat of many of their religious legends is 
sufficient proof of this feet. 

We are, however, enabled b}^ the aid of modern science 



to trace with some degree of accuracy the history of a 
grand race of people who occupied these sunny plains 
many 3'ears before the Indians were here. 

This people were no doubt well advanced in mechanical 
skill, were consecrated in religion, and practiced the arts 
to a mark d extent, as evidenced by the numerous relics 
found in the great number ot mounds scattered over this 
section, which are but sepulchres of this ancient people, 
designate as the*' Mound Builders." Many of these 
interestir <; mounds are found to contain skeletons, pot- 
tery, m: Tanical instruments, and weapons of war. Some 
have ev. i been found to contain human skeletonsencased 
in plate of mica, while most of the rich mica mines in 
this sec ion give evidence of having been worked many 
centuries ago. 

Returning to the present Cherokee histor3^ we find them 
to-day still holding to many superstitious beliefs, while 
in the history of the past every mountain summit had its 
legend, many of which remain to the present day. It is 
said that the Cherokees, knowing no reason why the tops 
of the mountains should be treeless, jumped to the con- 
clusion that the bald places were the footpi'ints of the 
devil, as he walked with giant strides from peak topeik. 

The "Devil's Court House," a precipice of the White- 




iHt Di YIL s cOlKT HOCsF 



68 



side Mountain, is believed to be the judgment seat of 
Satan, from where his Satanic Majest3' dooms to pun- 
ishment all who do notfollow strictly the laws of virtue, 
or who have been wayward in courage. 

We might thus enumerate hundreds of like legends which 
are still believed by many of the older members of the 
tribe. 

At one time they could raise 6,000 warriors, but 
from time to time they have been induced to give up 
their lands and have been forced to seek homes else- 
where, until to-day the Eastern Band, who still remain 
in North Carolina, number but little more than 1,100 all 
told, and it is said that their numbers keep decreasing 
yearly. This remnant, known as the Eastern Band of 
Cherokees, have title in fee simple to 50,000 acres of land 
in what is known as the Oualla boundary, with several 
smaller tracts belonging to individuals and the band, 
making in all about 73.000 acres. 

The Indians have no towns of any size, and their man- 
ner of living is not unlike that of the white people resid- 
ing in the same locality-, The Indian cabin is in all 
respects similar to that of his white neijihbor, as is also 
their mode of farming. Their farms are mostly poor and 
w^orn out by bad management. The principal crop is 
corn, while all kinds of fruit are plentiful. Stock raising 
is followed to a limited extent, and from this source they 
obtain what little money they need topay taxes and keep 
up their government. The dress of the Cherokee of to- 
day is the same as that worn by the whites, except the 
moccasins which alone survive the primitive Indian 
attire, all of which are made by themselves. 

Public schools are maintained for tlie education of the 

children, where they are taught in both Cherokee and 

English, and their education compares favorably with 

that of the whites in raan}^ localities. 

The seat of government is at Yellow Hill. The govern- 



69 

ment is controlled bj' a Chief, an Assistant Chief, and 
three executive advisers. The council consists of two 
delegates to every 100 persons. It is presided over by 
the Chief— or, in his absence, the Assistant Chief— who 
has power to veto any act, but is not at lilierty to act in 
any matter of public policy without the consent of the 
council. All male Indians past the age of sixteen are 
allowed to vote, as well as any white man living in the 
district who has an Indian wife. No one blit a Cherokee 
of not less than 35 years of age is eligible to the office of 
Chief, and no one is eligible to any office who has in any 
way abetted or aided the whites in defrauding the tribe, 
nor can anyotie hold office who denies the existence of a 
God, and a future state of reward and punishment. The 
salary of the Chief is $500 a year, and when in Washing- 
ton on official business $4 per day additional ; that of the 
Assistant Chief is $250 a year. 

Nimrod Jarrett Smith is the present incumbent of the 
office of Chief. He was born in Cherokee countj^ January 
3, 1837. He stands full six feet high and is well propor- 
tioned. His complexion is that of the ordinary' Indian, 
with well formed head and back. His hair is glossy 
black and flows in long waves down to his shoulders. 
Chief Smith moved into the bounds of the Indian tribe in 
Swain county in 1876. The former Chief, Lloyd R. 
Welch, dying in 1880, Smith was chosen to fill the place, 
and has been re-elected twice since, the election occurring 
every four years. All their land is owned in common by 
the tribe, and any Indian family has the right to live on 
and work as much land as he needs, provided he pays his 
taxes, which is all the rents required. They elect their 
councilmen every two years, who meet once a year, the 
Chief presiding over them. Their constitution and by- 
laws are printed in English. The3^ also have the New 
Testament printed in English. 



70 



Beech Moaiitain 



v/ 



TABLE OF ALTITUDES. 

SMOKY xMOUNTAINS. 

5,441 Mt. Collms, 



Clingman's Dome, 
Elk Knob. 
y/ Mt. Gtiyol; ( Bull- 
head Group, 



6,660 
5,574 



Mt. Buckley, '^' 
Roan, Hijjfh knob. 



Rabun Gap, 


2,168 


Satoola, 


4.506 


Chimney Top, 


4,563 


Fodderstack. 


4,607 


Whiteside, 


4,907 


Great Hogback, " 


4,792 


Rich Mountain, 


3,788 


Caesar's Head, 


3,225 


Hickor3^ Nut Gap, 


2.715 



Mitchell's Peak, 
Bowlin's P^^ramid 
Balsam Cone, 

Mount Pisgah. 5.757 

Devil's Court-House, 6,049 
5.988 
6.063 
5,786 



6,636 

BLUE RIDGE. 

Chimney Rock Hotel, 

Sugar-loaf, 

Bald Mountain 

(Shaking Bald), 
Swannanoa Gap, 
High Pinnacle, 
H ringing Rock, 
Grandfather, 
Blowing Rock M't'n, 

BLACK MOUNTAINS. 

6,717 Yeates' Knob. 



. 6,348 
6,671 

BALSAM MOUNTAINS 



Potato Top, 
Mount Gibs. 



Shinmg Rock. 
Cold Mountain, 
Old Bald, 

Bull's Head, 
Big Craggy, 

Hickor\ Nut Mt. 
Prospect Knob, 



Great Divide, 
Lickstone, 
Amos Piatt (Jun- 

aluskas), 
Soco Gap, 

CRAGGY RANGE. 

5,935 Craggy Pinnacle, 
6.090 Tryon Mountain, 

SOUTH MOUNTAINS. 

3,309 Ben's Knob, 
3,022 Pilot Mountain, 



6,188' 
6,599' 
6.306 



1,059 
3,973 

3,834 
2,657 
5,701 
5,224 
5,897 
4.090 

5,975 
6,393; 
6,591 

6,425. 

5,707 

6,278. 
4,341 

5,945 
3,237 

2,801 
2,435. 



TABLE OF ALTITUDES— Continued. 



LINVILLE MOUNTAINS. 

Hawk's Bill, 4,090 Short Off, 3,105 

Table Rock, 3,918 Kin^^'s Mountain, 1,650 

NANTAHALA MOUNTAINS. 

Rocky Bald. 5,323 Nantahala Gap, 4,158 

Picken's Nose, 4,926 Wayah, 5,494 

VILLAGES. 

Asheville, 2,350 Ouallatown, 1,979 

Hendersonville, 2,167 Charleston, 1,747 

Waynesville, 2,756 Franklin, 2.141 

Brevard, 2,150 Valleytown, 1,911 

Burnsville, 2,840 Murphy, 1,614 

Marshall, 1,647 Jefferson, 2,940 

Bakersville, 2.550 Boone, 3,242 

Hot Springs, 1,326 Highlands, 3,750 

Webster, 2,203 

Area of the Counties of Western North Carolina, 
and the County-Seats. 

SQ. MILES. COUNTY SEAT. 

Ashe 450 Jefferson. 

Alleghany 300 Gap Civil. 

Bnrke 400 Morganton. 

Buncombe 620 Asheville. 

Catawba 370 Newton. 

Caldwell 450 Lenoir. 

Cherokee 500 Murphy. 

Clay 160 Hayesville. 

Cleveland 420 Shelby. 

Forsyth 340 Winston. 

Graham 250 Robbinsville. 

Ha3'wood 740 Waynesville. 

Henderson 360 Hendersonville. 



/ 



72 

AREAS AND COUNTY-SEATS— Continued. 

SQ. MIIvES. COUNTY-SEATS. 

Jackson 960 Webster. 

Mitchell 240 Bakersville. 

Madison 450 Marshall. 

Macon 650 Franklin. 

McDowell 440 Marion. 

Polk 300 Columbus. 

Swain 420 Charleston. 

Surry 450 Dobson. 

Transylvania 330 Brevard. 

Watauga 460 Boone. 

Yadkin 320 Yadkinville. 

Wilkes 640 Wilkesboro. 

Yancey 400 Burns ville. 

Table of Distances and Railroad Fare. 

Compiled by B. A. Newland, Traveling Passenger Ag't, 
Chicago & Alton Railroad, Asheville. N. C. 

FARE FROM ASHEVILLE TO DISTANCE 

$ 8.35 Atlanta, Ga 362 

7.05 Augusta, Ga 202 

16.70 Baltimore, Md 518 

24.70 Boston, Mass 937 

9.60 Charleston, S.C 294 

7.45 Chattanooga, Tenn 239 

5.60 Charlotte, N. C 186 

20.10 Chicago, 111 718 

12.85 Cincinnati, ("^hio 417 

5.70 Columbia, S. C 164 

43.60 Colorado Springs, Col 1,657 

8.35 Danville, Va 239 

43.60 Denver, Col 1,582 

20,60 Detroit, Mich 

30.55 Port Worth, Texas 1,098 

11,10 Goldsboro, N. C 321 



n 



DISTANCES AND R. R. FARES— Cotitinued. 

FARE. FROM ASHEYILLE TO DISTANCE. 

6.70 Greensboro. N. C 191 

31.15 Galveston, Texas 1,224 

76.50 Helena, Mont 2,370 

30.55 Houston, Texas 1,174 

16.15 Jacksonville, Fla 581 

25.45 Kansas Citv. Mo 943 

4.10 Knoxville, Tenn 128 

12.10 Louisville, Ky 395 

10.35 Lynchburor, Va 302 

79.70 Los Angeles, Cal 2,G46 

21.55 Little Rock, Ark 700 

49.35 Las Vegas 1,729 

13.60 Montgomery, Ala 405 

30-60 Montreal, Canada 

19.00 Mobile, Ala 580 

16.80 Memphis, Tenn 549 

14.45 Morehead City, N. C 416 

32.50 Minneapolis, Minn 1,137 

12.05 Nashville, Tenn 390 

23.00 NewYork, N. Y 703 

22.25 New Orleans, La 795 

30.65 Omaha, Neb 1,150 

67.60 Ogden Utah 2,203 

84.60 Portland, Oregon 2,994 

19.50 Philadelphia, Pa 613 

9.50 Raleigh, N. C 272 

12.45 Richmond, Va 380 

4.95 Salisbury, N. C 142 

79.70 San Francisco, Cal 3,037 

14.60 Savannah, Ga 409 

20.15 St. Louis, Mo 660 

32.50 St. Paul, Minn 1,128 

67.60 Salt Lake City, Utah 2,240 



74 



DISTANCES AND R. R. FARE— Continued. 

F\RE. FROM ASHEVILLE TO DISTANCE. 

84.60 Seattle, Washina^ton 3,165 

79.60 Spokan Falls, Wasbins^ton 2,665 

15.50 Washington City, D. C 476 

12.45 Wilmington, N. C 406 

TEMPERATURES. 

Table comparing the mean and extreme temperatures 
at Asheville, with that of other points, for a period of 
five years : 















S 


P 






V, 


q 






p 








a 


5 




as 


Co 


'5 






3 


< 


^ 


* 


2 


S 


Asheville 


54° 


71° 


55° 


37° 


54° 


86° 


6° 


Highlands 


52 


68 


53 


30 


50 


84 


4 


Franklin 


54 


70 


53 


40 


54 


85 


6 


Murphv 


56 


72 


53 


39 


55 


89 


6 


Boone 


47 


68 


48 


32 


48 


82 


4 


Lenoir 


55 


74 


55 


38 


55 


91 


9 


Bakersville 


51 


71 


52 


36 


52 


83 


3 


Western Division 


52 


70 


52 


37 


53 


87 


8 



RAINFALL. 

The average rainfall in inches for the different seasons, 
during a period of eleven years, is shown as follows: 

Spring ------ 10.1 inches. 

Summer ------ 13.5 " 

Autumn ------ 7.1 " 

Winter - - 9.5 " 



Total for the vear - 



40.2 inches. 



'■p ^gggpg' g^ 



iKBlSSgE 



^'^^Hl-^^^^-^'^l il^^^s*^' 













LINDSEY & BROWN'S 

I! Descriptiye * Catalogue || 

1 



PHOTOGRAPHIC UlEWS 



iT(ic{a,1<foftlleg%, 



-DR- 



f 



i 



HBEIUTIES'jOFr- 






ASHEYILLE; N, C, 



ill 



^te 






76 
CLASS A= 

ASHEYILLE AND YICINITY. 

As^eville! "The Land of the Sky,"— "The Poet's 
Dream," — The Health Seeker's Paradise." Nestled away 
np among the cloud-capped pinnacles of the Appalachian 
Mountains, with her vine-clad hills, her flowers and sun- 
shine, we can't wonder that she is called by such pet 
names as the above. 

In this class we give a list of the names of Views in 
Asheville and its immediate vicinitj-, among which will 
be found many views both interesting and instructive. 

100 Asheville from Beaucatcher Mt. 

101 " " Sunset Drive. 

102 North Main St. from Public vSquare. 

103 Asheville from Town Mountain. 

104 South Main St, from Swannanoa Hotel. 

105 Stand Pipe on Beaumont. 

106 Beaucatcher Mt. from Valley. 

107 " " " City. 

108 Mt. Pisgah from Battery Park. 

109 The Mountains from Battery Park. 

110 Mt, Pisgah from Swannanoa Hotel. 

111 Connally's " Tahkeeostee Farm. 

112 Asheville 

113 Connally's Residence. 

114 Battery Park Hotel, different views A to H. 

115 Union Depot. 

116 Stand Pipe and Beaumont. 

117 Interior Dining Room, Battery Park, two view.«. 

118 Swannanoa Plotel. • 

119 View from Veranda, Batterv Park Hotel. 

120 " on 

121 " in office 

122 Patton Avenue from Court House. 

123 " " lookins: East. 



77 



123A Patton Avenue looking West. 

124 View from Court House Tower. 

125 City from Battery Park. 

126 Asheville Water Works. 

127 Hotel, Asheville Sulphur Springs. 

128 Cedar Gap from 

129 Mt. Pisgah " 

130 View in grounds " " 

131 Pavilion 

132 Boat House & Band Stand, Sulphur Springs. 

133 The Craggies from 

134 Views from Gouch's Peak — 4 views. 

135 Crystal Fountain. 

136 View from Oakland Institute. 

137 Asheville " 

138 Mt. Pisgah from " 

139 Oakland Institute, 4 views, 

140 Public Square, looking North. 

141 " " " South: 

142 " " " West. 

143 West Asheville. 

144 Court House. 

145 Summer House on Richmond Hill. 

146 First National Bank. 

147 Public Square, looking East. 

148 View on Public Square. 

149 Residence of Mrs. Herrick. 

150 The Winyah House. 

151 The "Bungalow." 

152 Beaumont from Battery Park. 

153 Balsam Gap " " " 

154 Riverside. 

155 The Wigwam. 

156 Witchwood. 

157 Shiloh Baptist Church. 



78 



8x10 SIZE. 

175 Battery Park Hotel and Tallylio. 

176 " " '' from Tower. 
176A " 

177 Mt. Pisgah from T^attery Park. 

178 Asheville from Beaumont. 

179 Graham's Cotton Factory. 

14-X17 SIZE. 

200 Battery Park Hotel. 

201 The Bungalow. 

202 Asheville from Beaumont. 



CLASS B. 

BEAUTIES OF THE SWANNANOA RIVER. 

Here are some of the most charming and beautiful bits 
of scenery anj^ where to be found. We have scores of 
views along this little river, onW a few of which are 
named, and, therefore, not noted in the following list, 
but all of equal beauty and interest. 

300 Connally's Ford. /^ 

301 View from Steel Bridge— West. 

302 Verdant Arch. 

303 The Eddies. 

304 The Arbor. 

305 Cheesborough's Bridge. 

306 Down the Rapids. 

307 View near the Water W^orks. 

308 Snarly Trees. 

309 Lover's Retreat. 

310 The Shoals. 

311 View from Cheesborough's Bridge. 

312 "Gathering up the Shells." 

313 A Shady Nook. 

314 Afternoon Drive, 



79 



315 Reflections. 

316 The Fairy Grotto, 

317 Steel Bridge at "Best." 

318 Still-water. 

319 Island near "Best." 

320 Boating. 

321 View near Asheville Junction. 

322 R. R. Bridge. 

323 "Azalea." 

324 The Dam. 

325 The Fish Trap. 

326 Waiting for a Bite. 

327 Craggies from the Swannanoa.j 

8x10 SIZE. 

375 The Arch. 

376 " Steel Bridge. 

377 Still-water. 

378 The Water Works. 

379 Connally's Ford. 

14x17 SIZE. 

390 Under the Arch. 

391 Light and Shade. 



CLASS C. 

BEAUTIES OF THE FRENCH BROAD RIVER. 

Perhaps no section of our lovely mountain country 
presents so great a variety of beautiful views as are to 
be found along this lovely river, hundreds of which we do 
not enumerate in this catalogvie. 

400 View from Rock Cut. 

401 Mountain Island Falls and Railroad. 

402 Deep Water Bridge. 

403 " " " and Island. 

404 " " " and Trestle. 



8o 



405 The Whirlpool. 

406 The Rapids. 

407 Mountain Island Falls. 

408 Among the Rocks. 

409 Deepwater Shoals. 

410 The Sluice. 

411 Above Deepwater. 

412 Rocky Point. 

413 Rock Cut. 

414 Mountain Island. 

415 The Boulders. 

416 View from Summit Rock Cut. 

417 Dividing Waters. 

418 Above Hot Springs. 

419 Island above Hot Springs. 

420 Below^ Deepwater. 

421 Below Hot Springs. 

422 The Narrows. 

423 Chimney Rocks. 

424 The Cliffs. 

425 Devil's Pulpit. 

426 Turtle Rock. 

427 Lover's Leap Mountain. 

428 " " ' Profile. 

429 Monkey Head Rock. 

430 Seven Sisters. 

431 T-ong Shoals. 

433 View from Connally's. 

434 French Broad from Richmond Hill, 3 vicAvs. 

435 French Broad and Pearson's Bridge. 

436 Rock Island. 

437 " *' Falls. 

438 View at Sandy Bottom. 

439 Paint Rock, front view. 

440 " " from below. 

441 " " "• above. 



8i 



442 Rock Cut at Unaka. 

443 " " " 

444 View from Summit of Paint Rock., 

445 The Bluffs. 

446 Below Alexander's, 2 views. 

447 " Baile3''s Bend, 2 views, 

448 Above " " 3 

449 " Marshall. 

450 Baile3''s Bend. 

451 R. R. Bridge near Marshall (wood). 
451 A " " ** " (new iron). 

452 View at Marshall. 

453 Marshall, 2 vie .vs. 

454 R. R. Bridge at Asheville. 

455 " *■' below Paint Rock. 

456 View at Alexander's, 

457 Bridge at Alexander's. 

458 Boat Island near Alexander's, 

459 Reems' Creek Falls. 

460 View from Strawberry Hill. 

461 View from General Vance's. 

462 View from Capt. Fagg's, 3 views. 

463 Pearson's Bridge 

464 A. Tributary. 

465 Thousand Islands. 

6y2X8V2 SIZES. 

480 View below Hot Spiings. 

481 " from Deepwater Bridge, 

482 " " Rock Cut. 

483 French Broad from Strawberry Hill, 4 views. 

8x10 SIZES. 

484 View from Richmond Hill. 

485 " " Connally's. 

486 Bailev's Bend 



82 



487 View near Ivy Bridge. 

14x17 SIZES. 

492 View from Richmond Hill, 2 vie as. 

493 " " Connally's. 



CLASS D. 

ROUND KNOB AND YICINITY. 

In this class will be found many of the most interesting- 
views of our entire collection. Nestled in the very heart 
of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it is perhaps nowhere sur- 
passed if, indeed, equaled for the wildness and beauty of 
its scenery. 

600 Railroad at 17 points. 

601 " '* 6 

602 " " 5 

603 " '' 4 " 

604 Hotel Fountain and Viaduct. 

605 " " " Railroad. 

606 '* and ** 

607 Big Fill Trestle with Track Below. 

609 " '' from Below. 

610 Destruction Bridge. 

611 Fountain and Hotel. 

612 Deep Cut below Licklog Tunnel. 

613 Railroad and Pinnacle. 

614 Licklog Tunnel, length 562 feet. 

615 McElroy " " 89 " 

616 Through Licklog and McElroy Tunnels. 

617 High Ridge Tunnel, 451 feet. ' 

618 Burgin " 252 " 

619 Swannanoa " 1800 ** 

620 Dividing Waters. 

621 Into the Blue Ridge, 2 views. 

622 Glacial. 



S3 



623 Ice ill R. R. Cut. 

624 The Fountain in Winter. 

625 Frost Work at Fountain. 

626 Royal Gorge, 2 views. 

627 Pinnacle of the Blue Ridge, 2 view 

628 Hotel at Round Knob. 

629 Big Fill Trestle. 

630 Raven's Cliff. 

631 Fountain and Mt. St. Barnard. 

632 The Viaduct and Pinnacle. 

633 " " " Fountain. 

634 Scene on Mill Creek. 

635 The Fountain and Hotel. 

636 The Blue Ridge, 2 views. 

637 Stroup's Trestle. 

638 Catawba Falls. 

639 Upper Catawba Falls, 2 views. 

650 Linville Falls. 

651 View on Linville River, 2 views. 
552 Linville Gorge. 

653 Upper Linville Falls. 

654 Table Rock. 

655 The Hawk Bill. 

656 Whirpool on Buck Creek, 2 views. 

657 Buck Creek Falls. 

8X10 SIZKS. 

680 R. R. at 17 Points. 

681 Hotel and Fountain. 

682 Royal Gorge. 

683 Stroup's Trestle. 

684 View near Round Knob. 

685 R. R at 2 Points. 

686 The Blue Ridge Mts. 

687 Catawba Falls. 

688 Linville Falls. 



84 

689 " Gorge. 
689A '' 

690 " Rapids. 

14x17 SIZES. 

691 Hotel and Fountain. 
691A " 

692 R. R. at 17 Points. 



CLASS F. 

HOT SPRINGS AND VICINITY. 

Hot Springs, known far and near for the beauty of its 
surrounding scenery, and the life-gi\Mng virtues of the 
waters that bring back to the faded cheek the bloom of 
health. The entire neighborhood is indeed a real park of 
beautiful scenery. 

401 Mountain Island Falls and Railroad. 
403 Deepwater Bridge and Island. 
403 " " " Trestle. 

405 The Whirlpool. 

406 The Rapids. 

407 Mountain Island Falls. 

408 Among the Rocks. 

409 Deepwater Shoals. 

410 The Sluice. 

411 Above Deepwater. 

412 Rocky Point. 

414 Mountain Island. 

415 The Boulders. 

416 View from Summit of Rock Cut. 

417 Dividing Waters. 

418 Above Hot Springs. 

419 Island above Hot Springs. 

420 Below Deepwater. 
411 " Hot Springs. 



85 



423 Chimney Rocks. 

427 Lover's Leap Mountaiu. 

428 " " Pr-.file. 
439 Paint Rock, Front View. 
441 " '" Profile. 

444 View from Summit of Paint Rock. 

445 The Bluffs. 

550 Passenger Depot, Hot Springs. 

551 Hotel at Hot Springs (East End). 

552 " from Passenger Depot. 

553 View from Round Top. 

554 Hotel looking West. 

556 Rustic Bridge over Spring Creek. 

557 " " and Hotel. 

558 " " " Cascade. 

559 The Cascades, or Lover's Retreat. 

560 Peter's Rock. 

561 View from Cliff Top Road. 

562 Spring Creek Falls. 

563 Triple Cascades, 2 views. 

564 View from Wier's Hill. 

566 R. R. Bridge and Hotel. 

567 View on Spring Creek. 

568 Hotel, South End. 

569 The Ferry. 

570 Big Elm. 

571 View from East Balconj^. 

572 View from Lover's Leap. 

573 Fails above Rustic Bridge. 

6^x81^ SIZES. 
590 Hotel from Rocks. 

14x17 S12ES. 

595 Hotel from Lawn. 



86 
CLASS K, 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

In this class will be found views of ever\- section of our 
mountain country not embraced in the preceding classes. 
Manj'- of these views are of the finest scenery we have. 
We have placed them under the head of "Miscellaneous'' 
because th~ey are scattered all over this mountainous sec- 
tion and embracing views of the following noted places: 

Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Rocky 
Mountains, Mitchell's Grave, the Craggy Mountains, 
Anews in the Black Mountains, views of Chimney Rock 
and Hickorj Nut Gap, views in Buck Forest and about 
Ceesar's Head, &c., &c. 

Our description on the back of this class of views is 
more general and not confined to each locality as in the 
other classes. 

SECTION 1. — HICKORY NUT GAP AND VICINITY. 

700 Hickory Nut Gap. 

701 Chimne}^ Rock, 2 views. 

702 Hickory Nut Falls. 

703 George's Pools. 

704 The Pools. 

705 Rocks on Broad River. 

706 Ford " 

707 Rapids " 

708 A^iew " " " 2 views, 

709 Chimney Rock Mt. 

710 Broad River and Round Top. 

711 Hickory Nut Valley. 

712 Logan's Hotel. 

713 Vance's Nose. 

714 Bottomless Pool. 

715 Upper Pools. 

716 Chimney Rock and Hickory Nut Falls. 

717 The Old Man's Face. 



87 

718 Esmeralda's Cabin. 

719 The Fissure in Bald Mt. 

720 Looking down the liap. 

721 Round Top. 

722 The Trough. 

61/2X81^ SIZES. 

750 Chimney Rock. 

751 Esmeralda's Cabin. 

752 Esmeralda and Cabin. 

753 View from Toll Gate. 

754 Shaking Bald Mt. 

8x10 SIZE. 

755 Hickory Nut Gap. 

756 Chimney Rock. 

757 " " and Falls. 

SECTION 2. — BUCK FOREST AND VICINITY 

800 View on Reems' Creek. 

801 Hamilton's Mill, Little River. 

802 Below " 

803 Near " 

804 View 

805 Castle Rock. 

806 Bushwhacker's Gorge. 

807 Wild Cat Rock, 2 views. 

808 Bridal Veil Falls (Little River ). 

809 Below Bridal Veil Falls. 

810 High Falls. 

811 Triple Cascades. 

812 Upper 

813 The Lower Falls. 

814 View from Triple Cascades. 

815 Hooker's Mill. 

816 Grassy Creek Falls. 
S17 Hotel Buck Forest. 



88 



SECTION 3.— CESAR'S HEAD. 

818 Caesar's Head Hotel. 

819 '• '• . 

820 Raven's Cliff Falls. 

821 View from High Falls. 

822 Conestee Falls, 2 views. 

823 Below High Falls. 

854 Baptizing in Little River, 

8X10 SIZES. 

825 High Falls. 

826 '' " Side View. 

827 Triple Falls. 

828 Conestee Falls. 
859 Little River Rapids. 

SECTION 4. — MT. MITCHELL AND VICINITY. 

830 Gombroon (Res. Senator Vance). 

831 Craggy from Cedar Cliff Pinnacle. 
831A 

832 M. Mitchell from Clingman'sDome. 

833 Mitchell's Grave. 

833A Mitchell's Monument, Mt. Mitchell. 

834 Above the Clouds. 

835 The Three Senators. 

836 The Biaek Brothers. 

837 Clingman's Dome from Mt. Mitchell. 

839 Greybeard Mountam. 

840 Mitchell's Tavern. 

841 Little Blue Sea Falls. 

842 View on Caney Creek. 

843 Hotel De Patton. 

844 Dome of the Craggies. 

845 The Black Mts. from Craggy. 

846 Craggies from Gombroon. 

847 " '• Coopers. 

848 Mitchell's Pool. 



«9 



6^2X81/2 SIZE. 

848A Mitchell's Pool. 

8x10 SIZE. 

848B Mitchell's Pool. 

849 Mt. Mitchell from Caney Creek. 

849A The Black Brothers. 



850 Whiteside Mt., looking N. E. 


851 


t ■ " s. 


852 


w. 


853 


" ""."' N. 


855 


* from Grimshaw^'s. 


856 


' " Picklesimer's, 


857 


' and Chimney Top. 


858 


* from Ravenel's. 


860 


' West End. 


863 Omakaluka Falls. 


864 '' Cascades. 


866 Lower Cullasaja Falls. 


867 Highlands, from Sunset Rock. 


868 Highland Falls. 


870 Tuck£sege Falls. 


873 Scene on the Cullowhe, 


874 The Devil's Court House. 


875 Granite City. 


876 Ravenel's from Horse Cove. 


877 Horse Cove from Ravenel's. 


878 Satoola Mt. 


879 U. S. Mail Boys. 


880 Rabun Gap and Mt. 


SECTION 6.— ALONG THE MURPHY R 


883 Hotel at Waynesville, 2 views. 


884 " Grounds at Waynesville, 2 views. 


886 Scott's Creek. 


887 


Falls. 



888 St-ill-cut Ridge Trestle. 

889 Hall's Station. 

890 Bridge at Bushiiell. 
891 

892 Mill 

893 Scene on the Nantahala. 

894 Euchiila Falls, 2 views. 

895 Talc Mill. 

896 Station at Jarrett's. 

897 Falls near " 

898 Culvert near " 

899 Crossing the Nantahala. 

900 Valley of " 

901 Nantahala River and Gap, 

902 '* Falls. 

903 Upper Nantahala. 

904 Junction of the Tennessee and Nantahala. 

905 Falls on Briar Creek. 

906 Marble Qnarry at Hewitt's, 

907 Soco Falls. 

908 Smoky Mts. from the Tennessee. 

909 Old Mill on the Tennessee. 

910 Scene " " 

911 Near Bushnell. 

912 Junction of the Tennessee and Tuckasege. 

913 Scene on the Tuckasege, 5 views. 

914 Old Stone Church. 

915 Balsam Mountains, 2 views. 

916 Down the Balsam. 

917 Old Mill near Waynesville, 

918 Scene on Richland Creek, 4 views. 

919 " in th^Balsams, 

920 " on Stoney Creek. 

921 Trout Creek. 

922 Turnpike Hotel. 

923 Mt. Pisgah from Thompson's Knob, 2 views. 



91 

924 Balsarn Gap. 

8x10 SIZES. 

925 Nantahala Valley. 
826 Nantahalas. 

927 Natitahala River and Gap. 

928 Scene near Bushnell. 

929 Tuckasege Falls. 

930 Whiteside Mountain. 

931 " " looking E. 

932 '^ " " W 

933 Omakaluka Cascades. 

934 Highland Laurels. 

935 Cullasaja Falls. 



CLASS Z. 

CHARACTER AND COMIC. 



In this class, as the headingindicates, is represented all 
kinds of Character and Comic Subjects, such as rude 
Mountain Teams, Mountain Vehicles, Cabins where the 
lower classes exist, — views photographed from real life 
during our rambles through the mountains. To many,, 
this is the most interesting class in our entire list. 

1001 Tar Heel Peddler. 

1002 Emigrating. 

1003 Uncle Tom's Cabin. 

1004 Old Cabin Home. 

1005 Hard Up. 

1006 Contentment. 

1007 The Wood Market. 

1008 Wid Medford, the^Bear Hunter. 

1009 Resting. 

1010 Modern Agriculture. 

1011 Blondin Donkey. 

1012 Cheating the Calf. 



92 



1013 As Happy as Lords covtld be. 

1014 Alountain Team. 

1015 Spike Team. 

1016 Dynamile Cabin, 

1017 "Wo-Wha, Buck." 

1018 White Man's Bar. 

1019 Our Guests. 

1021 Peach Tree Cabin. 

1022 Native 

1023 Haunted House. 

1024 Grapevine Cabin. 

1025 Old Field Cabin. 

1026 Prairie Schooner. 

1027 The Three Graces. 

1028 Chimney Rock. 

1029 Planter's Home. 

1030 Dov^m the Lane. 

1031 Planter's Team. 

1032 The Old Folks from Home. 

1033 A Sunbath. 

1034 Little Ones at Home. 

1035 Old Folks at^Home. 

1036 Cabin in the Corn. 

1037 The Tourists. 

1038 TilHn.sx the Soil. 

1039 The "Old South." 

1040 The "New South." 

1041 The Bootblack. 

1042 The Weary Traveler. 

1043 The Zebras. 

1044 Compulsory. 

1045 Stripes but no Stars. 

1046 The Widow's Hut. 



\ 



Hot Springs, 

Sit^wiated on the ^/^eslera IN'ortK (Xarolina 

^irisiea of the I^^ichraoad and 

SaRville IX- 'Si- 

Is the charming Resort for the Health and Ple;asure 
Seeker, with a balmy and invigorating climate of su- 
peror dryness, and a superb natural location. 

It has the "Pine Woods," "Dry Ai^titude,*' ab- 
solute "Freedom erom Fog," and "Pereectly 
Pure Air," which together make 

''E\ie Ideal Climate Fop t^e J)e[ailitatec?l and 
tl2e Cor2jamphiVe." 

The Meteorological Record for 305 days, from July 
ist, 1887, to May ist, 1888, shows 260 days clear and 
fair and only 45 days cloudy or stormy and the aver- 
age winter temperature 46° 9^ 

The Batls are the Finest in Aierica. 

From cozy retiring room down marble stairs into 
marble pools (6x9), the bather enters and enjoys the 
thermal waters which flow direct from earth in a con- 
tinuous stream at temperature from 96° to 104° F., 

And Rival Far Famed Carlsbad in Luxury and Power 

to Cure Rheumatism, Gout, Malaria, 

Nervous Exhaustion, etc., etc. 



II 

■ASHEYILLE- 



FEMALE COLLEGE 

1890-1891. 

SEB CUT OF BUILDING ON PAGE II. 

This Institution, which has for manj' years been favorably- 
known to the people of the Southern and Northwestern States, 
continues to j^row^ in its usefulness and patronage, and now 
has among its pupils, young ladies froin thirteen different 
States. 

The buildings are new, newly and neatly furnished, heated 
by steam, water on ever3'^ floor, neat bath rooms constantly 
supplied with cold and hot water. The Course of Study is 
thorough and well selected ; made out by the President, w^ho 
has been an active school-room worker for twenty consecutive 
years. This Course is such, as will render any young lady, 
who studies it faithfully, practical and accomplished, and so 
prepared for the duties of life. The Faculty is able and experi- 
enced. The Departments of Music and Art are especially fine. 

Thousands of people visit Asheville for health. For giving 
vigor and strength to the constitution, this climate has no 
equal on the continent. So young ladies who have delicate 
constitutions, and are unable to stand school-room work at 
their homes in the various States, come to this College and are 
enabled to do regular w^ork for ten months in the year, and at 
tlie end of their Course, return home well educated and accom- 
plished women with much improved phj'sical constitutions. 

The campus contains seven acres of well shaded lawn. 
During the vacation months of July and August, the building 
is opened for the boarding of Summer visitors. For Cata- 
logue and information, apply to 

Pkof. B. E. ATKINS, 

President. 
Asheville Female College, 
Asheville, N. C. 



Ill 




AS?4riE>^IT^l^Ii:, ]V. c. 



A FIRST-CLASS HOTEL. 



Five Minutes Walk from Court Square. 



TABLE AND SERVICE FIRST-CLASS. 



FOR TERMS, ADDRESS 
PROPRIETOR. 



HIGHLANDS, N. C, 

3817 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL. 

Finest Scenery and Summer Climate in the Moutains. For in- 
formation address S.T. KELSEY & SON, Real Estate Dealers. 



IV 



(a/isr)cviliG, rycrir) v!>(ap0lir)ct. 

OPEfl TH^OlJGHOUT THE VEfll^. 

ELEVATION 2,600 FEET. 
AVERAGE SUMMER TEMPERATURE. 74°. 

MAGNIFICENT MOUNTAIN SCENERY. 

HYDRAULIC ELEVATOR. ELECTRIC BELLS 

AND LIGHTS. 

MUSIC HALL, TENNIS COURT, LADIES' BILLIARD 

PARLOR AND BOWLING ALLEY. 

BEAUTIFUL DRIVES AND FIRST-CLASS LIVERY. 

NO MOSQUITOES. 

For descriptive printed matter apply to 

tfOHH B. STEEIiE, 

MANAGER. 



No. 29 
SOUTH MAIN ST. 



CITY BRKE^V, 

Families and Parties Siipplied with Bread, Cakes, 

Crackers, Confectioneries, etc. 

Ice Cream, Ornamental Cakes a Specialty-. W. G. PERRY 



Easy of access, offers the greatest variety of Scenery' as well 
as field sport, in the State. Boutelle U. S". SurA^ev average al- 
titude from 3,000 to 3.700 ft. Aluch on 'The Land of the Sky' 
and in the Picture Galleries comes from here. T. C. CARSON, 
Game : Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Speckled Trout. Prop'r. 



Bo Wo BIIMKH©MBH^ 

^ ARCHITECT AN D SUPER{NTE NDENT |^ 

« _j 

69 Bailey St., i-<X^—* Asheville, N. C. 



C. QOWAN, [^ H. COSBY, Successor.] JEWELER, 

27 Patton Ave. 



V 

— — PROPRIETOR 

AsheYille Cement, Liie and Plaster Depot 

—AND— 

ASHEVILLE WOOD YARD. 

—DEALER IN- 
BEST BRANDS OF IMPORTED PORTLAND AND 
DOMESTIC CEMENTS, 
Lime, Calcined Plaster and Roofing Material, 

MANUFACTURER OF 

ARTIFICIAL STONE STEPS, CARRIAGE BLOCKS, 
WINDOW SILLS AND CAPS, 

SIDEWALKS AND TILING. 
All kinds of FIREWOOD Cut. Split and Delivered 

Ready for Use. Also 
COKE Crushed to various sizes for Stoves, Ranges 
and Furnaces. 
Office No. 30 Patton Avenue. 

Yard Near Freight Depot. 

AsHEYiLLE Ice km Coal Co., 

MANUFACTURERS I ^^ |™" FROM DISTILLED 

OF PURE I \^ 1^^ WATER. 

DEALERS IN BEST QUALITIES OF 
Wholesale and Retail, and Coke at Wholesale. 

SOLE AGENTS CELEBRATED JELLICO COAL, 

DOMESTIC AND STEAM. 

Office No. 30 Prttton .\venut and near Smith's Bridge, 



YI 

WALTER B. GWYN. W. W. WEST, 

GWYN & WEST, 

(Successors to Walter B. Gwyn.) 



Refer to The National Bank of Asheville. 

Real Estate. 

LOANS SECURELY PLACED AT 8 
PER CENT. 



NOTARY PUBLIC. 

COMMISSIONERS OF DEEDS. 

FIRE INSURANCE. 



OFFICE SOUTHEAST COURT SQUARE. 

Write for Circular and Price List. 



VII 

men # K©©6 » ^©te^I, 

100 Feet From Central Passenger Depot. 

Gas Iiights. Telephone. 

Toilets and Bath t^ooms 

ON EVERY FLOOR. 

Lunch Counter and Billiard and Wine Room in Building. 
Building and Furniture New and First-class. Electric Cars 
leave the Front Door every 20 minutes. 

$2.00 PER DAY. 

A. G. HALYBURTON, Proprietor. 

SKVliRJ^D SPt^ir^GS, 

Only 8 Miles from Asheville on the A. & S. Railroad 
and Hendersonville Pike. 

The greatest number and variety of Mineral Springs to be 
f )und in the South. 

4r8 Springs on X^ess Ttiaii 4.0 A-cres. 

Chalybeate, Iron, Sulphur, Epsom, Alum and Magnesia. Sev"* 
eral very fine combinations that are used in curing Indiges- 
tion, Liver and Kidney Troubles, Chronic Dysentery, Chronic 
Dj^spepsia and Chronic Sick Headache. One Spring recently 
developed is one of the greatest tonic waters ever found. 
Many are buying lots to build Resort Cottages near the 
Springs. Lots are sold at nominal prices to advertise the 
place and the Mineral Water. Board can be had at 

$20 to $30 Per Mouth or $1 Per Day. 

References, Testimonials, etc., can be had by writing to 
ow-ner; or better yet, anyone interested is invited to come and 
try the water. Great improvements will be made next summer. 

Trains leave Asheville at 9.05 a. m. and return at 7 p. m. 
Fare 25 Cents. For further information write to 

OTIS ^?^. 3\^II_iXjE:E^, 

vSKYLAND P. O., N. C. 
City Office with J. M. Campbell. 



VIII 

BLACKV^EI_L'S 

White Sulphur and Chalybeate 
SPRINGS, 

12 Miles Northwest from Aslieyille. 

Over a beautiful drive, presenting Views and Grand 
Mountain Scenery at every turn. Four miles from 
Alexander Station, on W. N. C. R. R. A grand 
and picturesque drive over hill and valley. On this 
drive you have the finest Mountain Views in Western 
North Carolina ; the grand Roan and Bald Moun- 
tains — in fact you see across Western North Carol- 
ina ; then you are at Blackwell's, the great home 
of rest, nestled away in the center of the grand sys- 
tem of Appalachian Mountains, where you will find 
every breeze wafting the sweetness from a thousand 
hills covered with wild flowers. 

The healing waters and hygienic cooking and 
fresh milk and butter and the strict sanitary regu- 
lations will cause you feel that you are really and 
truly in "The Land of the Sky," where every rea- 
sonable wish will be gratified, and every pain and 
ache cured. 

Parties will be met at Alexander Station on one 
days notice before arrival, with conveyance for par- 
ties and baggage. Correspondence solicited. 

Address D. A. BLACKWELL, 

Alexander, N. C. 

Average Temperature : Jan. 58°. lo. Aug. 70°. 10. 
Elevation : 2,300 ft. above Tide Water. 



IX 

Ballmd, Rich & Botce, 
STOVES AND tinware: 

PLUMBING, STEAM AND GAS FITTING. 
SLiflTE Rfit) TUM {ROOFING. 

PIPE AND FITTINGS, VALYliS AND ALL KINDS OF 
PLUMBING GOODS. 

Galvanized Iron Cornice ^ Window Caps. 

READY MIXED PAINTS AND COLORS. 

11 South Main St., Asheville, N. C. 

vf^©r)lF0:cf0r 0:r)d j^uildeT?, 

201 MERRIMON AVENUE. 

Refer to those whose houses he has built during twelve years. 

HOTEL FDRHITURE. PARLOR FURNITURE. 

wmmflivLsoH & co., 

Dealers in All Kinds of 



FURNITUR 



OFFICE L [SM T Dt SEWING 

FURNITURE. rLllllll I IJlir MACHINES. 



16 PflTTOrl flVElMUE. 

We are prepared to move Furniture, Lay Carpets 
or put up Shades, Curtain Poles and 

Furnisli Everything About a House, 



6- 



X 

■ — ■ — ♦ >-4 »^^-» 

^ J>e\\f\llfu\ 4iomc \n tlie^eapt of tl^e^Il 
jlianie^, \Jliepe +lcaltl7 eome^ kac^^ho 

*-^^^^-«^ 

This beautiful sumnaer resort situated immediately ou the 
Murphy Division of the Western North Carolina Railroad, 
"half way bet\Yeen Asheville and Waynesville, fifteen miles from 
icach place, is now open for the reception of guests. 

The hotel is surrounded by the Pisgah Range of Moun- 
tains, and is conceded by all to be one of the most delightful 
And health-giving resorts in Western North Carolina. A cool 
breeze is continually passing through the valley, giving life 
and freshness to all things, and in consequence of which no fog 
•or vapor is to be found in the valley at any time. 

The building is new and well furnished. Large and well 
ventilated. Telegraph and Post Office in the house. 

The grounds upon which the hotel is built have an altitude 
of 2,400 feet above the level of the sea. 

Smathers' View, two miles away, with an altitude of 5,000 
feet, is directly in front of the hotel, and is one of the grandest 
views in all our mountain country. 

The entire surroundings are unsurpassed for picturesque- 
tness and beauty, and all who visit Turnpike go away renewed 
in health and energy. 

Now comes the most attractive scenery of all — the excell- 
ent and delicious fare to be always found on the table, which 
at all times is supplied with all the commodities to be found 
in this section, served in the very best style. Fresh Mutton, 
Milk and Butter supplied from the premises. 

This place is especially^recommended by^physicians for al* 



XI 



kinds of lung troubles, on account of the dry and bracing at- 
mosphere, which is free from dust and poisonous germs. 

Excursion rates will be given from Asheville, Waynesville 
and other points along the line. Parties leaving .Vsheville in 
the morning arrive at Turnpike at 8:20, take dinner and re- 
turn on the down train at 3:50 p. m. 

Fruit in abundance on the place. Special attention is 
called to the fine variety of grapes. 

Every eflort will be made to please all who visit Turnpike. 



M/ M/ Nl/ SI/ \l/ \l/ Nl/ SI/ SI/ SI/ SI/ SI/ 

7;s ~,\ /Is /is /is /is /is /is /is /is /is /is 

Per Day, $1.50. Per Week, $8. Per Month, $30. 

SPECIAL RATES TO FAMILIES. 



Two Parties Occup\'ing the same Room will be 
Charged $25.00 each Per Month. 

Freestone and Chalybeate Springs on the F/aee. 



*i\ ^j\ 



\'trs. /^. (X. Sn~Lalher£, "proprietress. 
J. (X. Sn-iatKers, IN/Cariager. 



XII 

THE SWANNANOA i 

—IS THE— 

Most Conveniently Located Hotel in Asheville 

For Tourists and Families. 

ON ELECTRIC STREET CAR LINE. 
MOUNTAIN VIEWS, NEAR BUSINESS CENTRE. 

Rawls Bros. 



CHAMBERS & WEAVER'S 



CCS 







Between Swannanoa Hotel and Episcopal Church. 



J. M. ALEXANDER, 

MANUF.\CTURER OF 

^a^prjess, §gvcieiies, (2oiigy.ps, ete. 
Always a Full Line of Goods on Hand 

— AT— 

Second Door From Main Street, North 
of Court House Square. 



XIII 

ASHCVILLE 

BOOK STORE. 

COMPLETE LINE OF 

BOOKS * AND f STATIONERY, 

Tourist's Books. 

Proprietors of the Hew SouYenir of Asheville. 

(READY SOON.) 

Visitors' Headquarters. New Books Continually. 

J. 1<T. n^^oiRG-^^nsr &; oo. 

]Vo. 3 I»\il>lio eSquare. 

B¥ Mjim, 

10 Mlnette size Photos, $.100. 

2 J fflinette size Photos and Nice Album for $1.(01 
30 Photos with Album for $2.00. 

Send Cabinet Photo to Copy from, 
which will be returned. 
Address 

LINDSEY & BROWN, 

South Court Place, 



LimsEY & Brown's 

Pfiotof rapfiie Parlors, 



ASHEVILLE, N. C. 



Photogi^aphie PoPtPOiituPe in all 
the Iiatest Styles. 



PUBLISHERS OF 

PHOTOGRA PHIC VIEW S 

OF 

Western North Carolina, 

A partial list of which will be found on 
the following pages, to which we call 
special attention. 



G 



taxation for five years all manufacturing establishments 
having a capital (^f $5,000.00 and over. 

The business outlook for the current yearis very bright, 
and promises to be of unusual activity. Several large 
real estate transactions are now being negotiated, which 
will involve large expenditure of money in improve- 
ments. 

The manufacturing business of the city is enlarging 
rapidly, and I make the prediction that within the next 
ten years Asheville will be the largest hard wood manu- 
facturing city in the South. Dr. C. D. Smith, the well- 
known scientist of Macon county, stated that Western 
North Carolina contained the hard wood in which the 
world is to be supplied in the next fifty years. With one 
exception North Carolina has the largest percentage of 
forest area of any of the Southern States, that area in 
acres being 57.9 of the whole, and this percentage is 
greater in Western North Carolina than in any other 
part of the State. Tt abounds in that most valuable 
timber — poplar, now growing so greatly in favor in the 
Northern markets, and also in oak, hickory, black wal- 
nut, ash, cherry, locust, pine, etc. 

I have thus presented as briefly as could be done, in the 
time permitted me, an outline of the chief interests of our 
city, but not enough to do the subject the full justice it 
merits. GEO. S. POWELL. 



A 



SUPPLEMENTAIy. 

Since the foregoing pages went to press the follow- 
ing report of the President of the Asheville Board of 
Trade, has been issued, and in order to make our 
Guide Book as nearly complete as possible we supple- 
ment the report in full, hoping it may be of interest 
to our readers and beneficial to our growing city : 



HsIlBYillB, 18BD-I89D. 



THE WONDERFUL RECORD 
OF A DECADE. 



ANKOAL REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASHE- 
VILLE BOARD OF TRADE, 



At the annual meeting of the Asheville Board of Trade 
I think it proper that a report be made on the business 
of the city at the present time, its prospects for the fu- 
ture, and in doing so, view it in its relations to the past, 
thus instituting a comparison between its condition in 
1880 with what it is now at the beginning of 1890. 

With this object in view, I commenced a few weeks ago 
to collect matter for this report, intending to confine my- 
self to a brief review of the mercantile interests of this 



B 



city, as illustrated by the business of the past year. But 
as I advanced in the collection of facts and statistics so 
much sprang up before me, suggested by the original 
subject of investigation, that I felt it to be a duty as 
well as a pleasure to embrace other topics proving what 
a grand exhibit we could make of the developments of 
the city in all its relations to population, enterprise and 
achievements within the past ten years. 

The statistics presented have been compiled with great 
care, and are approximately accurate. 

It has been widely conceived, but assuredly an errone- 
ous impression, that Asheville is purely a health and 
pleasure resort. To that feature I ofier no dissent. It 
deserves all that is said of it in that regard, and year by 
year it adds largely to its seekers after health and pleas- 
ure. But to the charms of climate and scenery we add 
unsurpassed inducements to the investor, the manufac- 
turer, the artisan, the merchant, and all seeking homes, 
either for pleasure or profit. For the proof: 

Ten years ago Asheville contained a population of 
2,610. To-day she has a population of 12,000. 

In 1880 the assessed value of the property in the city 
was $904,428. To-day it is $4,393,234, an increase of 
500 per cent, in ten years. 

In 1880 the mercantile business amounted to about 
$500,000. The total business of the city for the year 
1889 amounted to $4,956,090.64. 

The increase of business in 1889 over the business of 
1888 was 25 per cent. 

In 1880 there were sold on the Asheville tobacco mar- 
ket 150,000 pounds of leaf tobacco for which was paid 
$12,000. At the close of the tobacco year ending Sep- 
tember 1, 1889, there had been sold 4,178,838 pounds, 
for which was paid $422,479.26. I am informed by the 
secretarv of the Tobacco Association that the sales from 



the 1st of September, 1889, to the present tirae show an 
increase of about 20 per cent, over any previous year tor 
the same length of time. 

The real estate transactions for the past 3'ear amount- 
ed to $819,000. And this has been done without the in- 
fluence of a boom, but in the natural course of progress, 
healthv and stable. In this the large purchases of Mr. 
Geo. Vanderbilt in the vicimtj^ of Asheville are not inclu- 
ded. Mr. Vanderbilt on his visits to Asheville saw how 
he could judiciously employ his money and indulge his 
tastes by getting possession of and adorning large tracts 
of land, embodying every variety and feature of natural 
beauty. He acquired on the south side of the Swanna- 
noa river and along the French Broad river about 6,000 
acres, for which it is estimated he paid half a million 
dollars. He is now engaged in the developing of his 
plans, building costly residences, out buildings, farm 
houses, stables, etc., laying out extensive roads and 
drives, planting orchards, forming plantations of ever- 
greens and other trees. He has employed in that work 
to-day about 300 hands and fift_v teams. I mention this 
more fully because the example of Mr. Vanderbilt may 
not be lost upon others, and because his large purchases 
have not taken up all the eligible locations in the vicinit}^ 
of Asheville. 

As indicating the steady and continuous growth of the 
eity, I will state that during the \^ear 1889 there were 
erected here 184 buildings at a cost ot $528,800. 

There are fifteen manufacturing and lumber establish- 
ments within the city limits, with an aggregate capital 
of $800,000, doing an annual business of $1,100,000. 
Among these are the C. E. Graham Manufacturing com- 
pany's mills, employing 250 hands and running 260 
looms and 6,100 spindles, the output being plaids, ging- 
hams, sheeting, etc. 



D 



The A^shevUle Furniture and Lumber Company are em- 
ploying about 90 bands and engaged in making out of 
the fine natural woods elegant and durable furniture 
which has alreadj'^ received a large demand at home and 
abroad; 

The Asheville Milling Company is making on a very 
large scale verj' superior patent roller process flour and 
all other products of a flouring mill; 

The Asheville Tobacco Works manufacture fine chew> 
ing and smoking tobacco; 

An Ice Factory is supplying all local demands and the 
summer wants of the neghboring towns; 

A Shoe Factory employing about 80 hands making all 
varieties of shoes and already securing a large and wide- 
ly extended patronage; 

The Demens Manufactory of all kinds of lumlier, sash, 
blinds, store fixtures and making a specialty in the work- 
ing of hard woods; 

The French Broad Lumber Company, with steam saw 
mill, dealers in all kinds of lumber, employing about 50 
hands. 

The Asheville Manufacturing and Lumber Company 
engage in the same business. 

To these may be added a soda water and bottling es- 
tablishment, three large tobacco sale warehouses, a num- 
ber of tobacco prize houses, and several sash and blind 
factories. The barking capital of the city in rouud num- 
bers is three hundred and twenty-two thousand dollars. 
Capital on deposit amounts to about a half million dol- 
lars. There are in the city eight hotels and twenty-seven 
boarding houses, some of the hotels being of such a 
character as to have achieved national reputation. They 
have provided excellently for the forty thousand visitors 
who came to Asheville during the past year. As a new 
feature in the movement of travel I will state that these 



hotels and boarding houses are now filled with strangers 
from all parts of the country, proof that Asheville has a 
reputation as a winter as well as a summer resort. There 
is here probably the best water supply in the United 
States. There is a complete system of sewerage, secur- 
ing cleanliness and health to every street and lot in the 
city. 

Following is the weather report of Dr. Karl von Ruck^ 
observer U, S. Signal Service Station, for the year ending 
October 31, 1889: 

Mean annual temperature 54.52'^F., mean maximum 
temperature 65.59°F., mean maximum temperature 
44.90°F., absolute maximum temperature 77.61°F. 
absolute minimum temperature 30.06^F., mean daily 
range of temperature 20.61°F., mean daily varia- 
tion of temperature 3.09^F., mean relative humidity 
65.55, mean absolute humidity 3.549 grains. 

Average number of clear and fair days in each month 
24 5-10. 

Average number of cloudy and rainy days in each 
month 5 6-10. 

There were only ten days in the year in which there 
was no sunshine. 

Average number of days on which 1-100 of an inch or 
more of rain fell in each month 9 7-10. 

Average monthly rainfall including melted snow in 
inches 3 14-100. 

Total rainfall for the year in inches 37 68-100. 

Mean annual barometer corrected for temperature and 
reduced to sea level, 30-17. 

Prevailing winds, N. and N. W. 

Average amount of ozone present of possible 100, 64 
per cent. 

There aie four miles of electric street railway running 
to the most prominent points in the city. There are two 



systems of electric lighting, the arc and incandescent, hj 
which the streets are lighted and also business houses, 
public buildings and private dwellings. In addition to 
these there are gas works which share largely in such 
uses. 

There are three graded schools for white pupils and one 
for colored pupils, educating altogether twelve hundred 
children. There are moreover two male academies, two 
female colleges, one female high school and one theologi- 
cal school. 

There are sixteen churches for all denominations and 
both races, one public library, three club houses, and a 
Y. M. C. Association. 

There are two fire companies and a Gamewell alarm 
S3'stem, and also a telephone S3^stem. 

There are two daily newspapers, besides six weekly 
and one monthly, 

Otir railroad system connects tis speedily with all parts 
of the country, with double daily trains. It may be 
stated here that in our population are included about 
two thousand residents of Northern and foreij^n birth, 
the latter being chiefly English and Scotch. 

The city has a debt of $240,000 in water works and 
sewer bonds bearing 6 per cent interest. 

There are one hundred and forty-four business Louses 
in the city; and in this connection I will state that last 
year there were only two failures, and those for small 
amounts. This is highly creditable to the good business 
judgment and high intelligence of our merchants, and it 
presents a record unsurpassed by any town of similar 
size in the whole country. 

The State, county and city tax is $1.73 per annum on 
the $100.00 worth of property. Theassessm.ent of prop- 
erty is about 60 per cent, of the actual value. A citj- 
ordinance passed about three years ago exempts from 



BlIMIL 



r/x. 






J. s. c;raot, pii. G., 

Of Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, 

Apothecary, 24 Soutli Main St. 



If your prescriptions are prepared at 
GranVs Pharmacy you can positively de- 
pend upon these facts: First, that only 
the purest and best drugs and chemicals 
will be used; second, they will be com- 
pounded carefully and accurately by an 
experienced Prescriptionist; and third, 
you will not be charged an exorbitant 
price. You will receive the best goods at 
a very reasonable profit. Don't forget 
the plact — Grant's Pharmacy, 24 South 
Main Street. 

A full supply of Homoeopathic Medi- 
cines always on hand. Also a complete 
line of Humphrey's Specihcs. 



I^©. 24 Soutli Maisi Street, 

AsIieTille, P^. C, 



i 



